Henotheism

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A Sikh colleague and I at the corporate site were in dialogue on religion and he asked about the different divisions within the historical Christian Church.

The Christian Church whether Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and in most cases Non-Denominational is Biblical, trinitarian and monotheistic.

Distinctions exist within the triune God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and yet God is Biblically and theologically considered of one nature and essence and one God.

Traditionally three persons, one nature, essence and God.

Admittedly, there are some, for example, modalist churches that from a secular perspective would be considered of the Christian tradition (such as in British academia), that would deny the trinity for modalism.

From British academia

Modalism emphasis the extreme limits of the trinity emphasizing unity at the expense of the plurality. Richardson (1996: 375). Three persons are assigned the modes or manifestations of the one divine being. Richardson (1996: 375).

I would state that modalism is not Biblical trinitarian theology, or a Biblical doctrine. To reference, Richardson, I reason modalism would only be trinitarian in broad, non-Biblical terms.

Biblical trinitarian theology denies the modes or manifestations, rather viewing the trinity as three distinctions or persons that are equally eternal God in nature and essence (Hebrews 1, Matthew 28, Acts 5).

In our discussion I mentioned henotheism.

Ronald Clements explains that henotheism is the exclusive worship of one god, while holding to a theological belief that other gods exist and may be worshipped by other peoples. Clements (1999:248.)

Cambridge and Alan E. Lewis states that henotheism is allegiance to one supreme deity while conceding the existence of others. This is also described as monolatry, incipient monotheism and practical theism. Lewis (1996: 321-322)

The far more well-known theological concept of polytheism is related as it is the belief in, and worship of many gods and Blackburn connects polytheism to Hinduism. Blackburn (1996: 292).

It is the belief in many gods and the implied opposite of monotheism. Shorter (1999: 454).

Therefore, theologically and philosophically, henotheism is under the umbrella of polytheism.

BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

CLEMENTS ROGER (1999) ‘Henontheism’ in lan Richardson and John Bowden (eds.), A New Dictionary of Christian Theology, London, ACM Press.

LEWIS, ALAN E. (1996) 'Henotheism' in Robert Audi (ed.), The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

SHORTER, AYLWARD (1999) ‘Polytheism’ in lan Richardson and John Bowden (eds.), A New Dictionary of Christian Theology, London, ACM Press.

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