The philologist and Oxford professor, Max Muller, popularized the term henotheism. In contrast to biblical trinitarian monotheism, Henotheism is the belief in one supreme god amongst many other deities. In this context, although henotheism is theistic in its belief about there being a divine source for all creation and humanity, it rejects the view that there is only one true God to be believed in. The roots of henotheism can be traced back to ancient Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, and other religions of the ancient world such as Egyptian, Greek, and Roman religions. Though there are many gods in these different religions, the common thread amongst them is that there is one supreme god that is greater than all the other deities in the pantheon.
Christianity is a trinitarian monotheistic faith, and although Christians have different theological and political views since the Body of Christ is quite diverse, it rejects the view of there being many other gods. Throughout the biblical narrative, Christ is described as existing before the world began, and being a good and loving God that gives his life as a ransom for many. It is through this message of hope that people can experience true freedom and redemption in the present and hope for what is to come in eternity.
The significant difference between polytheism and henotheism is that polytheism is a spiritual view that allows someone to believe in many different gods. In contrast, henotheism does not since it espouses belief in one god among many, while acknowledging that there are other gods. A good example of this is from the ancient Hindu religion. Although there are thousands of different deities within the religion, the Brahma is the one that is above all the other deities such as Krishna and Vishnu.
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Where Has Henotheism Been Practiced Historically?
Henotheism was practiced in ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Greece, India, and various regions of the Middle East. In Hinduism, the caste system provides an example of henotheistic practice. The caste into which a person was born often influenced the specific gods someone could worship and those believed to favor them. However, individuals could not predict the kind of karma they would face in the next life, adding a layer of uncertainty to their spiritual journey. In this framework, religion and culture were deeply intertwined, shaping both societal structure and personal beliefs.
The ancient Egyptians practiced Henotheism as well, which can be observed in the worship of the different pharaohs. For example, though there were many different gods in the Egyptian pantheon, the ruling Pharaoh was honored as the highest and most important of the gods. So we see that Henotheistic beliefs were well-established in the ancient world.
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Is Henotheism Mentioned in the Bible?
Throughout Scripture there are references to different gods such as Zues, Dagon, Molech, Baal, Ashtoreth, and others. In contrast to this, the Jewish people worshipped the one true God. Exodus 20:3 states, “You shall have no other gods before me.” In Psalm 82:1 the poet says, “God presides in the great assembly; he renders judgment among the “gods.” These biblical references are affirmations from Scripture that, in contrast to the different capricious false gods such as Baal and Athena, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was just, good, and loving. Throughout Scripture and human history, we find that Christ is who He claims to be and that He can be trusted.
The writer of John’s first-century gospel account states in John 8:58, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” This claim of Jesus being the one true God that existed before the patriarch Abraham, and before time and space came into being, is an affirmation that there is only one God, the God of the Bible. This was scandalous of Jesus to claim in the first century and is one of the reasons why he was put to death on the cross. However, unlike the other messianic movements stamped out by the Romans, Jesus victoriously rose from the dead, defeating the powers of darkness and evil, and offering hope to all of humanity. This is what is believed by Christians all around the world, as C. S. Lewis summed up in his classic work, Mere Christianity.
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How Does Henotheism Contrast with Biblical Monotheism?
In biblical monotheism, Christ is recognized as the one and only true God, even though other deities are mentioned in Scripture as part of the cultural and historical context. In contrast, within the framework of henotheism, Christ would be considered just one among many deities available for worship, rather than the sole, supreme God. For example, when Paul and another apostle were healing people in the name of Christ, the writer of the Book of Acts records this: “When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in their local dialect, 'These men are gods in human form!' They decided that Barnabas was the Greek god Zeus and that Paul was Hermes, since he was the chief speaker" (Acts 14:11-12).
This encounter St. Paul had with the philosophers in Lystra provides a contrast between henotheism and biblical monotheism. St. Paul and Barnabus were grieved to be mistaken as gods and pointed those searching to the one true God revealed in Jesus Christ. It is immensely important for Christians to understand this distinction between henotheism and biblical monotheism.
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Why Is Understanding Henotheism Important for Christians?
It is particularly important philosophically to understand the beliefs of henotheism since it could lead a Christian to believe in a Unitarian view that all the different gods and goddesses worshiped worldwide are one and the same. Jesus of Nazareth was inclusive in his teachings about salvation being for all of humanity through His Incarnation, Death, and Resurrection but exclusive in his claims about being the way, the truth, and the life.
This is one of the non-negotiables of the Christian faith and is included in the Apostles and Nicene Creed. This central belief about Christ unites all Christians from around the world.
A common view in modern culture asserts that all religions essentially worship the same supreme being, with differences being superficial. According to this perspective, whether one follows Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, or Christianity, all religions allegedly convey the same core message. However, upon closer examination, this claim does not hold up. For instance, in Islam, Jesus is regarded as a prophet but is explicitly denied as the Son of God or the Messiah. In contrast, Christianity is built on Jesus’ assertion that He is the incarnate Son of God, both fully divine and fully human, who offers salvation through His death and resurrection. These fundamental differences highlight that the central teachings of major world religions are not interchangeable and underscore the importance of understanding and upholding the uniqueness of Christian doctrine.
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How Should Christians Respond to Henotheistic Beliefs Today?
As Christians, we are called to approach every person as someone with intrinsic worth since they are created in the image of God. When having conversations with different people about Henotheism, Christians should listen and respond respectfully with grace and kindness about the exclusive claims of Christ, and how His love is inclusive for all.
A good example of this approach from Scripture is Acts 17. When St. Paul was in Greece debating with the different philosophers who believed in a form of Henotheism, after seeing the statue they had to an unknown God, he pointed out to them that the one true God that they were longing to worship was Jesus Christ. St. Paul knew the many different beliefs and philosophies held by the Greek people and knew how to respond with sincerity and love. This response caused some of the Greeks to be convinced, while others mocked him and found his message to be baffling, which is the kind of mixed response we can usually expect to receive today when sharing the Gospel, knowing that it is Good News, but that it is also hard to hear unless the Holy Spirit works in someone's heart.
Christians should approach people of different worldviews with respect, humility, and compassion. This approach exemplifies the agape love of Christ while also staying true to the Gospel. In my experience, people are quite put off by forms of proselytizing and fundamentalism. Before my conversion from agnosticism, when I saw examples of this, it deterred me from wanting anything to do with Christianity. When I observed intelligent, compassionate Christians truly living out their faith and engaged with them, I noticed that there was something quite different about them.
Respectful conversations and true, Christ-like attitudes allow Christians to lovingly share the uniqueness of Christ and the Gospel without dismissing or demeaning someone’s worldview. By embodying Christ’s love and grace, Christians can demonstrate the hope and truth found in the one true God while building bridges that invite others to consider the transformative power of the Gospel.
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Originally published Friday, 03 January 2025.