Polytheism: Why Believing in Many Gods Is Against the Bible
.png "Polytheism: Why Believing in Many Gods Is Against the Bible")
Polytheism is the belief that multiple gods exist and can influence the world. While this worldview has existed for millennia and shaped many ancient civilizations, the Bible is clear: there is only one true God, and worshiping or believing in other gods is idolatry (Deuteronomy 6:4, Psalm 96:5, James 2:19).
Cultural Origins and Beliefs
Polytheism emerged in ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, and the Norse cultures. Each culture had a pantheon of gods with specific roles: gods of war, love, sun, moon, harvest, or the sea.
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Mesopotamians worshiped gods like Marduk, Ishtar, and Enlil, believing they controlled natural phenomena and human destiny.
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Egyptians revered Ra, Isis, Osiris, and other deities, attributing creation, life, and death to their influence.
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Greeks and Romans had extensive pantheons with gods such as Zeus/Jupiter, Athena/Minerva, and Apollo, each representing particular human qualities or aspects of nature.
Polytheistic cultures often believed gods could be appeased with offerings, rituals, or sacrifices to gain protection, fertility, or victory. The idea was that humans could influence or negotiate with multiple divine beings to improve their circumstances.
Unlike the Christian God, who is sovereign, omniscient, and omnipotent, polytheistic gods were often seen as fallible, emotional, and sometimes morally questionable. This worldview inherently encourages spiritual confusion and idolatry because it divides reverence among many sources instead of one ultimate authority.
Creators and Promoters of Polytheism
Polytheism does not have a single “author” but developed organically across multiple civilizations over thousands of years. Leaders, priests, and religious thinkers codified the practices, wrote myths, and created rituals that encouraged worship of multiple gods. In Greek culture, poets like Homer and Hesiod shaped the pantheon through epic stories, while Mesopotamian scribes recorded the deeds of gods and creation myths in texts such as the Enuma Elish.
Polytheism persisted because it answered questions about life, death, and natural events before modern scientific understanding, offering a framework for morality, destiny, and protection.
Gods and Spiritual Framework
Polytheistic systems are defined by the belief in many gods, often organized into pantheons with distinct domains: love, war, wisdom, fertility, or weather. Some cultures also included spirits, ancestors, or demons, further complicating spiritual hierarchies.
These gods are false from a biblical perspective. Scripture declares in Psalm 96:5, “For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.” Belief in multiple gods is not neutral; it is considered idolatry and spiritual deception, opening people to demonic influence or false doctrines.
Purpose and Why People Get Involved
The purpose of polytheism historically was to explain life, control destiny, and seek protection. People hoped to gain favor from specific gods for health, prosperity, or victory. Today, polytheism persists in neo-paganism, Wicca, and other spiritual systems that incorporate multiple deities.
Individuals are drawn to polytheism because it appears flexible, allowing personal choice of gods or spiritual paths. Some see it as culturally or historically significant, while others are attracted to its mystical or spiritual practices.
However, the Bible warns that any reliance on gods other than the LORD is spiritually dangerous. Polytheism may seem benign, but it introduces false authority and idolatrous thinking, steering individuals away from salvation and true fellowship with God.
Is Polytheism Divination?
While polytheism itself is not direct divination, it often involves practices that fall under divination or occultism. Rituals, offerings, or attempts to communicate with multiple gods or spirits are forms of seeking supernatural guidance outside God’s Word. Deuteronomy 18:10-12 explicitly condemns such practices as detestable to God.
Believers are instructed to seek guidance, protection, and wisdom solely from God through prayer, Scripture, and the Holy Spirit. Polytheism diverts faith from the one true God, making it spiritually unsafe and contrary to biblical teachings.
Biblical Warnings
The Bible repeatedly emphasizes monotheism:
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Deuteronomy 6:4: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.”
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Psalm 96:5: “For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.”
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James 2:19: “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.”
These verses make it clear that any belief in multiple gods is false and spiritually dangerous. God alone deserves worship, obedience, and trust.
Conclusion
Polytheism is a belief system rooted in ancient cultures and myths, teaching that multiple gods influence the world. While historically significant, it is against God’s Word. Scripture repeatedly emphasizes that the LORD alone is the true God, and all other gods are idols. Christians must reject polytheism, trust in God’s sovereignty, and avoid practices that open doors to spiritual deception.
Teresa Morin
President of Touch of God Int’l Ministries
🌐 https://www.touchofgod.org
Of Healing and Deliverance, Ordained Minister, Public Speaker
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45-Second YouTube Script:
“Polytheism is the belief in many gods, practiced by ancient civilizations and even today in some spiritual movements. But the Bible makes it clear—there is only one true God. All other gods are idols, false and spiritually dangerous. Deuteronomy 6:4 reminds us, ‘The LORD our God, the LORD is one.’ Believing in multiple gods can open doors to spiritual deception and demonic influence. Christians must reject polytheism, trust God alone, and avoid any practices that lead away from Him.”
