polytheism

/pɑliˈθiɪzɪm/

/pɒliˈθiɪzɪm/

Other forms: polytheisms

Polytheism is belief in many gods — it's kind of the opposite of monotheism, which is belief in one god. If you believe in polytheism, you have a bunch of gods to thank or blame.

Though the most widely known religions today — Christianity, Judaism, and Islam — are all examples of monotheism, there have been plenty of religions that preach polytheism. Followers of those religions believe in a pantheon or group of gods, like the ancient Greeks who worshipped Zeus, Athena and the gang. Usually in polytheist religions certain gods are associated with specific things, like war or love.

Definitions of polytheism

1. noun

   belief in multiple gods
   antonyms:

   monotheism

   belief in a single God

   types:

   tritheism

   (Christianity) the heretical belief that the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit are three separate gods

   type of:

   theism

   the doctrine or belief in the existence of a God or gods