monotheism in D&D

[Twiggly the Gnome]

Well, but I still think it's important to point out that most monotheistic cultures have no problem with the existence of other deities, they just think that their one god is way cooler than the other gods.

monotheism
n.
The doctrine or belief that there is only one God.


henotheism
n.
Belief in one god without denying the existence of others.

 

[Kahuna Burger]

monotheism
n.
The doctrine or belief that there is only one God.


henotheism
n.
Belief in one god without denying the existence of others.

while this may be dictionary true, I've been engaged in many a complex religious discussion over the years without even seeing the latter word, so I'd take the orriginal comment as completely valid in this discussion. (especially sicne this stricter definition would claim that the old testamate does not support monotheism, which would fly in the face of common usuage of the word, usually meaning worship of a single god.)

Many religions which are common described as monotheistic may allow for a belief in other gods, but not their reverance. "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" being the most familiar example.

Kahuna Burger

 

[Ssyleia]

Personally, I think it would be highly inapproriate (do you spell that like this?) to incorporate "real-world" religious themes into game play, especially if it revolves around a religion that is more or less seriously held by one of the game attendees.

In my group I have a real-life theologist and as a DM it makes me a more than a little uncomfortable adressing issues assimilating issues from real-world religious history, because I do greatly respect his commitment to faith (which I lack) and I do not wish to insult his believes - or that of any other game attendee for that matter. As a matter of fact, I try to avoid building analogies such as Baator <--> Hell, Celestia <--> Heaven in my game nowadays.

As for monotheism itself, I have incorporated cultures/races with monotheistic believes alongside the "standard" D&D polytheistic cultures/races. Some of these groups deny the existence of other gods (calling them by a number of other names, just not gods), others venerate an "overgod-like" being who adresses all portfolios for this group and I used to have some (usually evil) groups completely deny the existence of other gods. The latter onese usually had a very warlike way of convincing others.

 

[Twiggly the Gnome]

(especially sicne this stricter definition would claim that the old testamate does not support monotheism, which would fly in the face of common usuage of the word, usually meaning worship of a single god.)

Many religions which are common described as monotheistic may allow for a belief in other gods, but not their reverance. "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" being the most familiar example.

Some parts of the old testement can support either monotheism or henotheism, depending on why reverance of other gods is prohibited. Is it because they are the patrons of foreign tribes, or are they considered mere fabrications. I don't think that allowing monotheism to encompass both ideas is very useful. If by common usage one allows it to mean two contridictory concepts it will join the word cult as a once useful term that is now of little constructive value.

 

[Kahuna Burger]

I don't think that allowing monotheism to encompass both ideas is very useful. If by common usage one allows it to mean two contridictory concepts it will join the word cult as a once useful term that is now of little constructive value.

I don't consider the two concepts contridictory except as you want them to be. If you define monotheism as the worship or reverance of only one god, there is no big problem in also commenting when monotheism is accompanied by the belief that the other gods do not exist. Since using the same word for the overall meaning and making additional distinctions as needed has worked in every discussion of monotheism vs other beliefs I've engaged in, I can't take much from your assertion that its not useful. *shrug*

Having a term for a subset does not have to remove that subset meaning from a larger term. We can all handle broad terms here and refine our concepts as needed. If not, the term "theism" would not be useful since there are so many subsets of belief structure that it encompasses.

It is interesting to know that there is a precise term for monotheism which denies any existance to other gods (though I couldn't use it without snickering for those who think the other 'gods' are really 'demons') but presenting it as the exclusive term for that idea and defining monotheism as opposed to it added nothing to the conversation.

Kahuna Burger

 

[Twiggly the Gnome]

I don't consider the two concepts contridictory except as you want them to be. If you define monotheism as the worship or reverance of only one god, there is no big problem in also commenting when monotheism is accompanied by the belief that the other gods do not exist. Since using the same word for the overall meaning and making additional distinctions as needed has worked in every discussion of monotheism vs other beliefs I've engaged in, I can't take much from your assertion that its not useful. *shrug*

I'm sure one could have a perfectly resonable conversation in which henotheism is subsumed under the banner of monotheism. I would think it would be similar to conversations that occurred before the coining of the term agnostic, in which people cited that form of atheism that professes that the existence or nonexistence of God can not be known.

Having a term for a subset does not have to remove that subset meaning from a larger term. We can all handle broad terms here and refine our concepts as needed. If not, the term "theism" would not be useful since there are so many subsets of belief structure that it encompasses.

Of course that's what those wonderful prefixes like Mono, Heno, Poly, and Pan are for.

It is interesting to know that there is a precise term for monotheism which denies any existance to other gods (though I couldn't use it without snickering for those who think the other 'gods' are really 'demons') but presenting it as the exclusive term for that idea and defining monotheism as opposed to it added nothing to the conversation.

It's useful insomuch as there are different considerations to to take into account if one uses a true monotheistic cosmology for a game world as opposed to a henotheistic model.