Is Christianity monotheistic or henotheistic religion?

Question

I just answered one question and it surprised me to see how many people view Christiantiy as henotheistic religion. I personally don't.

For thos who don't know what henotheism is - it refers to devotion to one God while accepting the existance of other gods (just like in Hinduism)

Nicolas, my definiton IS taken from Wikipedia - study it a bit more

Answer 1

Believe me it is truly monotheistic,adios.

Answer 2

early jews and early christians were henotheists: believed other gods existed, but only worshiped jehova. christianity may not be henotheistic anymore, but that's what happens when society and culture changes over time. old concepts are dropped, new ones are adopted, some are even changed. christianity today is not christianity back then.

Answer 3

Henotheistic

Answer 4

That is a great question. Christianity is actually a monotheistic religion. They beleive in only ONE absolute god. He just has 3 different aspects of Him, which are known to Christians as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three aspects of God represent the three different aspects of a man: body, mind, and spirit. Jesus being the body, the Father being the mind, and the Holy Sprit being the spirit. a man can be all three and yet be one person, as God can be all three and yet be one God. I hope this answer helps. Have a great day!

Answer 5

In a way it is but it also isn't. It is more like selective polytheism combined with selective Henotheism. They choose to only believe in certain Gods / Spirits and reject all others and they choose to believe that certain entites are the same God. This is where it becomes similiar to Hinduism that believes that God has many forms. Christians believe God has only three forms. Selective Henotheism.

Answer 6

A Mix of Zorastrian PAGAN worship of the Sun God Mithras and the true monotheistic teachings of prophet Jesus (pbuh).

amoung the similarities of current christianity and Mithraism are:

Son of God
Twelve followers
Killing and resurrection
Birthdate on December 25
Morality
Mankind's savior
Known as the Light of the world
The Legend of Mithra
Gift Giving
The Ancient Roman Festival of Saturnalia/Winter soltice
Tree Decorating
Kissing Under Mistletoe
Yule Log


I was so surprized when i heard this and i researched it, explains a lot about their rituals.

Answer 7

I think the "problem" as such is the definition of "God(s)"

for example on that question on christiainity I said that it depends on what your definition of monotheism is. which is probably confusing in a way.

Discussed this with a friend and we came to a conclusion of a relatively decent comparative analogy.

in Christianity you have a single tree, but the trunk is split into 3 parts that grow, still all one tree, but the trunk split into 3 parts. this split trunk being 3, but fundamentally all 1 tree.

in Judaism and Islam, you have a giant, perfect stone Obelisk. no branches, no splits, no forks, one unitary "object".

if your looking at the obelisk as an example of what "one" means, than the branched tree of christianity is "obviously" polytheistic.
but from the tree's view, its still one tree, and just as "one" as the obelisk is, and that polytheism would be a bunch of entirely separate trees.

but then again you could say that big forests sometimes have a root network or whatever that their roots intermingle into a single "forest" where they are "one" in a sense as well.

but for what your saying as well... some aspects of christianity have "deity-type" powers in as many as 6 entitys. (Father, Son, Holy-Ghost, Lucifer, Antichrist, Beast) so its interesting and varying depending on the angle you look at it.

Answer 8

Greek: εν (en) or ένα (ena) {(from εις (ees) or εν (en)} = one;

Greek: Θεός (Theos) = God; + -ism =Ttheism or (Godism)

henotheistic = of one God

Consequently, in my view, henotheistic and/or monotheistic is on and the same thing and talks about one and only one god!

English dictionary meaning: Belief in one god without denying the existence of others. Of which, I strongly disagree!

Monotheistic= Of a single God.

Greek: (Μονός, Μονή. Μονό) = Single and/or one
NDS

Answer 9

Christianity is monotheistic.

One God in the form of 3 persons: The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

That may be where the confusion lies.

Answer 10

Christian here. I'm unfamiliar with the heno- preface. But monotheistic is the way I've always viewed my religion. We worship the same God of the Jews, but perceive him as a triune unity.

Answer 11

It is dualistic in the fact that one consider oneself "saved" from damnation to the "other" place, Hell. If it weren't for that other entity, the devil, then there would be a need to be "saved". Hence there are 2 gods. One good, the other evil. If there were no bad, then there would be no need for good. I personally think that everyone is capable of all of the worst atrocities ever committed. Its all a matter of choice. The real question is just how selfish do you want to be?