Theism

===Polytheism===
{{Main|Polytheism}}
[[Polytheism]] is the belief in multiple [[deity|deities]], which are usually assembled into a [[pantheon (religion)|pantheon]], along with their own [[religious sect]]s and [[ritual]]s. Polytheism was the typical form of religion before the development and spread of the [[Abrahamic religions]] of [[Judaism]], [[Christianity]], and [[Islam]], which enforce monotheism. It is well documented throughout history; from [[prehistory]] and the earliest records of [[ancient Egyptian religion]] and [[ancient Mesopotamian religion]] to the religions prevalent during [[Classical antiquity]], such as [[ancient Greek religion]] and [[ancient Roman religion]], and in [[ethnic religions]] such as [[Germanic paganism|Germanic]], [[Slavic paganism|Slavic]], and [[Baltic mythology|Baltic paganism]] and [[Native American religion]]s.

Notable polytheistic religions practiced today include [[Taoism]], [[Shenism]] or [[Chinese folk religion]], Japanese [[Shinto]], [[Santería]], most [[Traditional African religions]],<ref>{{cite journal|last=Kimmerle|first=Heinz|date=11 April 2006|title=The world of spirits and the respect for nature: towards a new appreciation of animism|journal=The Journal for Transdisciplinary Research in Southern Africa|language=en-US|volume=2|issue=2|pages=15|doi=10.4102/td.v2i2.277|issn=2415-2005|doi-access=free}}</ref> and various [[modern Paganism|neopagan]] faiths such as [[Wicca]], [[Druidry (modern)|Druidry]], [[Romuva (religion)|Romuva]], and [[Hellenism (modern religion)|Hellenism]]. [[Hinduism]], while popularly held as polytheistic, cannot be exclusively categorised as such as some Hindus consider themselves to be [[pantheists]] and others consider themselves to be monotheists. Both are compatible with Hindu texts since there exists no consensus of standardisation in the faith. [[Vedanta]], the most dominant school of Hinduism, offers a combination of monotheism and polytheism, holding that [[Brahman]] is the sole ''ultimate reality'' of the universe, yet unity with it can be reached by worshipping multiple gods and goddesses.

A major division in modern polytheistic practices is between so-called ''soft'' polytheism and ''hard'' polytheism.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://digilib.phil.muni.cz/handle/11222.digilib/138049|title=Modern Pagan religious conversion revisited|last=Galtsin|first=Dmitry|date=21 June 2018|journal=Sacra|volume=14 |issue=2 |pages=7–17 |access-date=5 February 2019|archive-date=7 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207015038/https://digilib.phil.muni.cz/handle/11222.digilib/138049|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite book|title=Seeking the mystery : an introduction to Pagan theologies|last=Hoff|first=Kraemer, Christine|date=2012|publisher=Patheos Press|isbn=9781939221186|location=Englewood, CO|oclc=855412257}}</ref> "Soft" polytheism is the belief that different gods may be [[Jungian archetypes|psychological archetypes]], personifications of natural forces, or fundamentally one deity in different cultural contexts (e.g., [[Odin]], [[Zeus]], and [[Indra]] all being the same god as interpreted by Germanic, Greek, and Indic peoples, respectively)—known as [[wiktionary:omnitheism|omnitheism]].<ref>{{cite journal|last=Negedu|first=I. A.|date=1 January 2014|title=The Igala traditional religious belief system: Between monotheism and polytheism|url=https://www.ajol.info/index.php/og/article/view/109609|journal=OGIRISI: A New Journal of African Studies|language=en|volume=10|issue=1|pages=116–129|issn=1597-474X|doi=10.4314/og.v10i1.7|doi-access=free|access-date=24 February 2023|archive-date=24 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224223707/https://www.ajol.info/index.php/og/article/view/109609|url-status=live}}</ref> In this way, gods may be interchangeable for one another across cultures.<ref name=":0" /> "Hard" polytheism is the belief that gods are distinct, separate, real divine beings rather than psychological archetypes or personifications of natural forces. Hard polytheists reject the idea that "all gods are one essential god" and may also [[Religious exclusivism|reject the existence of gods outside their own pantheon altogether]].<ref name=":0" />

Polytheism is further divided according to how the individual deities are regarded:

; [[Henotheism]]: Henotheism is the belief that there may be more than one deity but only one of them is to be worshiped. [[Zoroastrianism]] is sometimes considered an example. 
; [[Kathenotheism]]: Kathenotheism is the belief that there is more than one deity, but only one deity is worshiped at a time (or ever) and another may be worthy of worship in another time or place. If they are worshiped one at a time, then each is supreme in turn.
; [[Monolatrism]]: Monolatrism is the belief that there may be more than one deity but only one is worthy of being worshiped. Most of the modern [[monotheistic]] religions may have begun as monolatrous ones, but this is disputed.{{Citation needed|date=February 2018}}

[[File:Spinoza.jpg|thumb|160px|The philosophy of Baruch Spinoza is often regarded as pantheist.<ref name=Picton>{{cite book|last=Picton|first=James Allanson|title=Pantheism: its story and significance|year=1905|publisher=Archibald Constable & CO LTD.|location=Chicago|isbn=978-1419140082|url=https://archive.org/details/pantheismitsstor00pictrich}}</ref><ref>*Fraser, Alexander Campbell "Philosophy of Theism", William Blackwood and Sons, 1895, p 163.</ref>]]