Monotheism or Enotheism? What is more apt for Christian Religion?

Frequently, people speak about the "the great monotheistic religions" to refer to Hebraism, Islam, and Christianity.I query myself if these are monotheistic religions, really, or if they are more aptly situated in a conceptual context of Enotheism.

It would help a great deal if you offered a definition for enotheism. It would then require that you show your argument for why these religions are enotheistic. Then perhaps it can be promoted.

You are right. Not every people know what Henotheism implies (I apologize for my mistake about my missing of the first letter ‘h’. In Italian the term is ‘Enoteismo’, without a prefixed "h").‘Henotheism’ indicates the worship of a particular god, without disbelieving in the existence of others gods.This concept may be illustrated with the help of a simple analogy:Two men have a habit to read a news paper every day. The — so to speak — ‘Monotheistic’ reader is that one who denies the existence of other published newspapers. So, he proclaims the only existent newspaper is that same newspaper he reads every day. The — so to speak — ‘Henotheistic’ reader is that one who acknowledges the existence of other published newspapers, but chooses to read always the same newspaper.On the basis of these concepts my question is: ‘It would be more correct define the classical ‘Monotheistic’ Religions like ‘Henotheistic’, since their followers do admit the existence of other - even though not worshipped by them - divinities besides the Divinity they choose to worship?Thanks for the tip.

I couldn't find "enotheism" in any on-line dictionary or in my home dictionary, which is a good one, but I did find it at Quizlet: That still doesn't mean it's a real word (though new words enter the language all the time), but that was the what I thought you meant, and it does seem especially appropriate for Christianity.

The term Henotheism (and the derivate ‘henotheistic’) is a real word.For example, you may find a definition of Henotheism in the following on-line dictionaries:http://ancienthistory.about.com/...gyptmyth/g/henotheism.htm
Henotheism Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
henotheism | religion | Britannica
Henotheism - definition of henotheism by The Free Dictionary
http://www.yourdictionary.com/henotheism
henotheism | Etymology, origin and meaning of henotheism by etymonlineBut, what is more important than mere words are the concepts included in the three ideas of what we call Monotheism, Henotheism, and Politheism (these definitions are not always well defined!)You may also safely forget these words and, instead, focus yourselves on these three ideal concepts:Concept A: In the whole universe exists only one god. I worship this sole god.
Concept B: In the universe exist a number of gods. But I worship only one of these
Concept C: In the universe exist a number of gods. I worship all of themNow, is not important if the word sequence ‘Monotheism’-‘Henotheism’-‘Politheism’ closely fits with the sequence ‘Concept A’-‘Concept B’-‘Concept C’ (shown before).The pivotal point is:
Is — for example — Christianity more closely described like a Religion that sticks on the Concept A, the Concept B, or the Concept C?Virtually all Christians immediately would rule out the Concept C from the (mathematical) set of Christianity.But, what about the remaining Concepts, A and B?
Christianity may be considered to be inside the Concept A?
Or, it is more appropriate to consider Christianity like a part of the Concept B?I think this is an important question inside the thread Bible Study.

Well, that's why I thought enotheism, as defined at that website I linked to, so interesting. Christianity seems much more like enotheism than "Concept B" because it has the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, and then there's the cult of Saint Mary, and then there's all the lesser saints that Christians pray to, especially Catholics.But enough of moderators having all the fun. I was leaving it to AdminNosy to make the promotion decision since he replied first, but maybe he's not around this weekend, so I'll promote this now.Edited by Admin, : Grammar.

Thread copied here from the Monotheism or Enotheism? What is more apt for Christian Religion? thread in the Proposed New Topics forum.

I am a Christian. I believe that there is One God...creator of all seen and unseen, including the other "gods" which I acknowledge to be spirit beings but whom I reject as being in any way godlike.It is a trait of human nature to "worship" other vibes apart from our Monotheistic Trinitarian God, but in my particular chapter of club christian, we consider idol worship to be something we actively resist in the Spirit.There is One Spirit(Creator of all things, ideas, and "other gods" seen and unseen, IMB.

Looking at the three Abrahamic religions, Islam is the one example that is totally Monotheistic. "There is no God but Allah and Mohammed is His prophet".When it comes to Judaism you really need to specify the period and culture. For much of history Judaism was most definitely Henotheistic. The early depictions of God is as just one of many Gods, "I am the Lord THY God, and you shall have no Gods before me." After the exile the god evolved into a universal God.Christianity is the schizoid family member that claims monotheism yet embraces the TRINITY and Jesus and a Fallen Angel that fights and opposes God.

Anyone who can worship a trinity and insist that his religion is a monotheism can believe anything... just give him time to rationalize it.

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Robert A. Heinlein, JOB: A Comedy of Justice

I would expect the conservative literal fundamentalist type/s to prefer concept A and the more liberal analogical interpretionist type/s to prefer concept B ...... but you also have many other possibles, such as:Concept D: "In the whole universe exists only one god, but it wears many faces, and I worship this god in all it's faces" andConcept E: In the whole universe there may exist a(n unknown) number of gods. I recognize this possibility, but do not worship any."Enjoyps - welcome to the fray

I understand the point you are making here, and I don't want to dismiss that point.But by attributing all of those traits to Christianity, you are literally making the same error Faith routinely makes here. Christians are people who embrace Jesus in one of the many forms embracing might take, but it isn't necessary to either embrace the Trinity or to accept Satan as literally real in order to be Christians. For example, I doubt you fit that mold.In either event, I don't think worshiping multiple deities who are all in one closely related pantheon really counts as enotheism. I don't think that term applies to most Christians, including the ones who don't buy into the Trinity.I also suspect that many modern followers of Judaism believe that those other gods described in the Bible are just superstitious claptrap. But back in the day, when those gods were thought to be real, perhaps henotheism was the right term as you say.Edited by NoNukes, : No reason given.

But I did not say that Christianity is henotheistic. I used the term schizoid. Which is why I pointed out "When it comes to Judaism you really need to specify the period and culture."In the Abrahamic religions the Gods has grown and evolved.

Why cant a monotheistic god have a Son? As you look down at the antpile, imagine how unable to relate to you they are. Then imagine yourself birthing an ant that was your character. Imagine that ant being your prophet, and imagine that that ant was full of the same creative Spirit that you had. Seems logical nto me. And yet I worship One God, Creator of all seen and unseen. I do not worship a Trinity. I am at a cross between A and D. The emphasis in my heart is on Mono E Mono, however. (Praise His Name)

And I took issue with your labeling of Christians as holding schizoid beliefs. Some Christians hold beliefs that might be characterized in that way, but many Christians completely dismiss both fallen angels and Trinity doctrine. Yes, and I agreed with you. Not really sure what point you are making.