The Deities Are Many: A Polytheistic Theology

Provides a theology of polytheism -- the belief in many deities -- using examples from a wide range of world religions.

Preface

xi

Acknowledgments

xiii

Chapter 1. Introduction

1

(18)

Why a Polytheistic Theology?

1

(4)

Whose Theology?

5

(8)

The Varieties of Polytheism: The Structure of This Book

13

(3)

A Few Caveats

16

(3)

Chapter 2. The Cosmic Couple: Mother Earth and Father Sky

19

(18)

Sky and Earth

19

(3)

Circumpolar Rebirth Rituals

22

(4)

Chinese Imperial Sacrifices to Sky and Earth

26

(2)

Sun and Moon

28

(2)

The Four Directions

30

(2)

Morning Star/Evening Star

32

(1)

Sun and Earth

32

(1)

Stars and Planets

32

(1)

Mountains and Streams

32

(2)

Personal Relationships with Cosmic Powers

34

(3)

Chapter 3. Numinous Nature: Animal, Plant, and Mineral Spirits

37

(22)

Introduction

37

(2)

Natural Plants

39

(3)

Animals in the Wild

42

(4)

Rocks and Minerals

46

(2)

Domesticated Plants

48

(1)

Domesticated Animals

49

(3)

Modes of Interaction

52

(7)

Chapter 4. The Family Deified: Ancestral Spirits

59

(14)

Ancestral Spirits

59

(2)

China

61

(7)

Modes of Communication

68

(5)

Chapter 5. Divine Ghosts: Functional Deities

73

(16)

The Anthropomorphizing of the Divine

74

(4)

Modes of Interaction

78

(11)

Chapter 6. The Seminuminous: Culture Heroes and Tricksters

89

(14)

Numinous Beings Unconnected to Rituals

91

(3)

Trickster and Humorous Divinities

94

(1)

Culture Hero Quasi Deities

95

(3)

Re-creation of the World versus Creation

98

(3)

Implications

101

(2)

Chapter 7. One or Many: Monotheists' Misperceptions of Polytheism

103

(18)

Polytheism Is Defined by Monotheism

103

(2)

Ur-monotheism

105

(4)

The Native American "Great Spirit"

109

(2)

The "Master of Heaven"

111

(1)

Theological Effects of Western Colonialism on Non-Western Traditions

112

(2)

The "Creator"

114

(1)

Taiping Religion and the Unification Church

115

(3)

Contemporary Versions of Monotheistic Assumptions

118

(3)

Chapter 8. Diversity and Accommodation: Human Life in a Polytheistic Milieu

121

(24)

The One in the Many, The Many in the One

121

(4)

A Polytheistic View of Monotheism

125

(8)

Living Polytheism

133

(9)

Conclusions

142

(3)

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The Deities Are Many: A Polytheistic Theology

Summary

Table of Contents

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