Polytheism

1
Polytheism

• A BELIEF IN MANY DEITIES

2
Polytheism is

• the belief in many deities
• A deity is a supernatural being of significant
  power
• Polytheism is from the Greek
• poly many
• theo deities

3

• Many scholars believe that polytheism evolved
  from animistic beliefs

• Animism was the belief in many spiritual forces,
  some friendly and some hostile
• Over time, these spirits were seen to have more
  complicated and individual personalities

4

• These deities, or gods, have individual skills,
  needs, desires, and histories

5

• They often have humanlike personalities, but with
  additional powers or abilities
• It was easy for humans to understand these
  personalities

6

• The deities would argue, fight, have children,
  play games all the things that humans do
• Complex mythologies evolved as humans imagined
  the deities interacting with each other

7

• These myths and legends could be used to explain
  natural phenomena such as the seasons or the
  creation of the world

8
Polytheistic Religions

• Many ancient societies had polytheistic
  religions
• Classical Greece and Rome
• Ancient Egypt
• Vikings
• Aztecs
• Ancient India (Hinduism)

9
Hinduism

• Hinduism is a modern religion founded thousands
  of years ago in India
• It is still practiced today, and is a form of
  polytheism

Percentages of Hindus today by country
10
Hinduism

• 1. Most Hindus believe that there is one divine
  power called Brahman
• 2. Brahman is then divided into numerous deities

11
Hinduism compared to other religions

• Doesnt have a single founder, date (est. 3500
  B.C.E.)
• Vedas is the holy book (Book of Knowledge)
• Doesnt have a concept of a prophet
• DOES have a trinity of deities

12
Hindu Deities

• Brahma God as Creator of World, supreme deity
• Is represented in the form of other gods
• Part of Hindu Trinity

13
Hindu Deities

• Vishnu God as preserver of the world, protector
  of creation
• part of Hindu Trinity

14
Hindu Deities

• Shiva God as Destroyer
• -responsible for change (ex death)
• part of Hindu Trinity

15
Hindu Deities

• Ganesha The Remover of Obstacles, God of
  Intelligence
• -son of Shiva and his wife

16
Hindu Deities

• Indra God of War and Weather, ruler of the
  heavens and other gods

17
Hindu Practices/Beliefs

• Different sects (groups) within Hinduism worship
  different deities through
• Prayer
• Karma
• Nirvana
• Reincarnation
• meditation
• Building shrines
• Sacrifices
• Pilgrimages
• (holy journeys)

18
Video Questions

• What event do Hindus prepare for in September? 
• According to the myth, how did Ganesh acquire the
  head of an elephant?  
• How does the boy in the video explain how
  worshipping many gods is the same thing as
  worshipping one God? 
• 4.  What do Hindus believe will occur after
  death? 
• 5. What does the immersion the clay idol of
  Ganesh in the sea represent?