Polytheism

Polytheism is the belief in many Gods. This is a belief generally accepted by Pagans in various degrees. The major types of polytheistic belief in Paganism are:

• Pantheistic
• Duotheistic
• Absolute
• Hierarchical
• Integrational

Pantheistic

This is the belief that there is a single source that all deities arise from. This source is a power that is in everything and everyone. Pantheism is the belief that "God is Everything".

Duotheistic

This belief is that all Gods and Goddesses are manifestations of a pair of deities, The God and The Goddess. This belief is especially prominent in Wicca. All deities are considered equal. The focus of this belief is usually the equality of God and Goddess. Some traditions, however, emphasize the superiority of the Goddess.

Integrational

This is the belief that ALL gods exist. It is similar but not identical to the Pantheistic approach. In this belief system, all Gods of every culture either coexist, or, more commonly, are the same Gods seen differently. The principle is that the God/desses of various cultures can be "integrated" into a smaller group of archetypical God/desses.

Hierarchical

In this system, there is one God who is worshiped, and a host of beings which are neither humans nor gods. Some sects of Christianity and Judaism practice this type of faith, worshiping God (JHVH or Jehovah), while communicating with Angels and Saints. It is less common among Pagans than the other types.

Absolute (or Hard) Polytheism

This is the belief in a single Pantheon of God/desses. Although practices by some reconstructionalists, it is relatively rare in modern times, but was common in the pre-christian world. Often God/desses where worshiped equally, or were accorded the greatest power within their own sphere of influence (for example, Hades ruled the Underworld, but lacked power elsewhere). In later cultures, one God was elevated to power over the others (Jupiter in Rome, Ra in Egypt, Odin in Norse cultures), but all gods where still worshiped. This practice is called "Monolatry", and is similar to the Hierarchical type.

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