Polytheistic humanity is sexually defiled by Scandinavian and politically ruled.

 Devin Kowalczyk

Devin has taught Psychology and has a master's degree in Clinical Forensic Psychology, and will earn a PhD in 2015.

This lesson offers a brief look into the definition, origin, and modern views of polytheistic beliefs. How have they evolved? Are there currently any still in existence? Read on to find out, and then take a quiz.

Polytheism

What do Odin, Zeus, Ra, Vishnu, and Matres have in common? Each belongs to a group of deities, with worshipers paying homage to multiple deities of varying power. These figures are part of polytheism, or the belief in and worship of many gods. The roots of this word are poly- ('many') and -theism ('gods'). Typically in polytheism, a particular deity is called upon for a specific event, a specific need, or the god's relationship with an area (grape fields, volcanoes, war) or families. Gods would be organized in a Pantheon, or a collection of all of the gods of a group of people. Some examples would be the Norse Pantheon, Greek or Roman Pantheon, Egyptian Pantheon, etc. However, you have to be careful with the Roman Pantheon because it was also a building. Ancient polytheistic religions are often referred to as mythology, a term that reduces them from the religions that they once were. For example, the Greek Mythology of Zeus, Hera, Athena, Ares and others was once a religion, with priests and priestesses, prophets and followers. But now it has been relegated to fantasy stories of the past.