Deity

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Deity is a term used to refer to a god or goddess in a polytheistic religion, or anything that is worshipped as divine. Deities are often considered to be powerful, immortal beings who are involved in the creation, maintenance, or destruction of the world. They are often depicted as having human or animal forms and are associated with various aspects of life such as love, war, fertility, and death.

Definition[edit]

A Deity is a supernatural being considered divine or sacred. The Oxford Dictionary of English defines deity as "a god or goddess (in a polytheistic religion)", or anything revered as divine. C. Scott Littleton defines a deity as "a being with powers greater than those of ordinary humans, but who interacts with humans, positively or negatively, in ways that carry humans to new levels of consciousness, beyond the grounded preoccupations of ordinary life."

Types of Deities[edit]

Deities can be categorized in a variety of ways. These categories include:

  • Polytheism: The belief in and worship of multiple deities, which are usually assembled into a pantheon of gods and goddesses, along with their own mythologies and rituals.
  • Monotheism: The belief in a single, universal, all-encompassing deity.
  • Henotheism: The belief and worship of a single deity while accepting the existence or possible existence of other deities.
  • Atheism: The absence of belief in deities.

Historical Deities[edit]

Throughout history, various cultures have had their own deities. Some of the most well-known include the Greek gods, the Roman gods, the Norse gods, the Hindu gods, and the Egyptian gods.

Deities in Contemporary Religions[edit]

Many contemporary religions have their own deities. For example, in Christianity, God is the supreme being. In Hinduism, there are many deities, including Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. In Buddhism, while Buddha is not considered a god, he is revered as a divine figure.

See Also[edit]


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