Similarities Between Monotheism And Polytheism

A cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith (Merriam-Webster), religion, a journey that can lead to prajna or destruction, an idea that has divided families and friends, a weapon used for centuries to judge, oppress and kill nonbelievers. As civilization evolved so did the need to find meaning and as each new belief system evolved, the harsher the punishment for non-believers became. Sometime, in the fourth century anno Domini, Christians introduced the term ‘pagan’ to the world. Its then negative meaning morphed into an insult, was used by Christians, labeling a group or people to be ‘someone without religion’. (Paganism) In a world, where more equates to better, some sects of monotheism stand firm in the belief that anything other is heresy. With the many similarities between monotheism and polytheism why then

(www.dictionary.com) Dogma is used synonymously with the doctrine and includes all Christian truths. It suggests a particular Christian doctrine has been raised to a status of an essential article of the church. An example of dogma is the Trinity which was formalized in the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed. (Stanglin, K D. "Dogma." Global Dictionary of Theology, edited by Dyrness, William A. and Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen, InterVarsity Press, 2008. ) Paganism does not have a predetermined doctrine, they have no established dogma. In the opinion of fellow Pagans Joyce and River Higginbotham, Paganism can be summed up in a word “search”. In order to have a successful foundation of new knowledge, inspiration and experience it is important to work your mental, spiritual and ethical muscles; this becomes the core of Pagan spirituality. (Higginbotham 67) Is the process of searching and questioning principles and living free from predetermined truths what places Pagan beliefs in the risk