I'm not a Henotheist

[pillar]

I told a friend today that I believed in many gods, not just one. And that I thought everyone went to the same afterlife. I also told him that I don't think god or the gods affect us, that they play no part in our human lives. He said I was a Henotheist. I researched the topic on wikipedia found here, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henotheism But after reading it this, it is nothing like I am, I think all the gods created the universe and they are all equal. I have had people think I'm christian because I believe in the afterlife, I have been called christian because I believe in a higher power, but this seems too much. I don't think one god is greater than the others and the next time I see my friend I'll tell him so. Anyone else have this problem?

[Briton]

Re: I'm not a Henotheist

Surely you're just a flavour of polytheist?

[B. de Corbin]

Re: I'm not a Henotheist

...Anyone else have this problem?

No, I'm an atheist - I have no problem with gods, just with god people

[DavidMcCann]

Re: I'm not a Henotheist

The idea of henotheism started from the 19th century evolutionary theory of religion. They saw human ideas as evolving from animism through fetishism, polytheism, henotheism, and monotheism to Christianity or Atheism according to taste. None of that was actually based on evidence, of course, although travelers' tales could be quoted in support of the supposed existence of "survivals" of the stages.

Then you get the term used for people who believe that all gods are aspects of one god: some Hindu intellectuals and the Wiccans — the "Cunningham Diamond" idea.

Then you get it used for those, like the Greeks quoted in Wikipedia, who believe in a supreme being as well as other gods. The trouble with that usage is that it would apply to all African pagans, most Native Americans, Siberians, etc, etc. As Maximus of Tyre said, it's the commonest pagan/polytheist position.

Incidentally, why don't you thing the gods play a part in our lives? Experiences of them are very common.

[Näre]

Re: I'm not a Henotheist

I have "a problem" with fluctuating between agnostic-atheist-pantheist-animist but well, it's part of the trip anyway. But in the pagan world there's nowadays a label for everything. You could perhaps look into polytheist terminology and find if there's anything to suit you and then, if you wish, tell that friend of yours that you're not a henotheist but a ________.

[pillar]

Re: I'm not a Henotheist

I just don't see their influence in my life, I never have. I know lots of people claim to have experiences but those could just be their imagination. I'm kind of a science fan and require something to be scientifically proven before I believe it, that's all. I'm probably missing out on a more spiritual lifestyle but that's a trade off I'm willing to make to stay intellectually sound.

[Briton]

Re: I'm not a Henotheist

I'm kind of a science fan and require something to be scientifically proven before I believe it, that's all. I'm probably missing out on a more spiritual lifestyle but that's a trade off I'm willing to make to stay intellectually sound.

Yet despite this, you call yourself "Pagan"?

[B. de Corbin]

Re: I'm not a Henotheist

Yet despite this, you call yourself "Pagan"?

Weirdly, many pagans are like this. I'm a pagan atheist, so are others around here. That's a can o' worms you may not want to pop the top on

[Näre]

Re: I'm not a Henotheist

There's always this bunch of pagans.

Humanistic Paganism, also called Naturalistic Paganism, is a unique Pagan orientation for those who are uncomfortable with or skeptical of the supernatural or metaphysical elements of contemporary Paganism. Individuals may use other self-descriptors, such as “Atheist Pagan”, “Atheist Witch”, “Pagan Humanist”, “Druid Naturalist”, etc. Humanistic Paganism has been described as Paganism without the “woo”. In affirmative terms, Humanistic Paganism is Paganism that is firmly rooted in the empirical world.

The website has plenty of resources + a nice blog if that sounds like your thing.

[Briton]

Re: I'm not a Henotheist

Weirdly, many pagans are like this. I'm a pagan atheist, so are others around here. That's a can o' worms you may not want to pop the top on

I dislike the utterly vague uses of "atheist" that means "doesn't believe in anything supernatural", and I don't recognize this meaningless and inaccurate definition, because that's not what atheist means.

Atheist, as defined by the OED:

A person who disbelieves or lacks belief in the existence of God or gods.

I don't believe in deities, I don't believe in gods

a superhuman being or spirit worshipped as having power over nature or human fortunes; a deity

So, I'm an atheist. But I believe in spirits that inhabit the world, I believe in a sort of soul that goes on after death but which remains tied to this world. The way I see it, ancestors have offerings made to them on the basis that upon being buried, they join the earth and thus can determine the weather and climate, whether or not there will be glut or there will be famine.

Yeah, I think most people here are well acquainted with the "humanistic paganism" website, and humanism doesn't preclude the existence of the supernatural, it just changes the priorities.

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If you require something to be scientifically proven to accept it exists, then that's just materialist philosophy. That's not paganism.

[thalassa]

Re: I'm not a Henotheist

Yet despite this, you call yourself "Pagan"?

There be an entire book on this very phenomenon and its diversity that will be available shortly.

[B. de Corbin]

Re: I'm not a Henotheist

Oh cheez whiz. Whatever. (responding to Briton)

[anunitu]

Re: I'm not a Henotheist

If you have to explain way to much,most likely you are really not sure what you believe....Wait,wait,let me quote some people to explain what I believe in my heart of hearts...

[B. de Corbin]

Re: I'm not a Henotheist

"I believe it's time to go get beer and a video" - Corbin

[anunitu]

Re: I'm not a Henotheist

Ahhhhhhh,so much truth,and so much beer...and the bathroom is so far away right now......