When rea ding or learning about various spiritual paths you are bound to come across terms such as polytheism, pantheism, animism and monotheism. These terms are all variations of theism which, simply put, is a belief in at least one deity. By itself theism is merely belief, but once certain ideas and perceptions of deity or deities are added on, theism becomes a particular belief system.
Monotheism
A belief in the existence of a single god which is commonly viewed as a creator of all and not dependent upon any being. The major Abrahamic religions of Christianity, Judaism and Islam are some of the more well known examples of monotheism. Other monotheistic religions that aren't as well known include Zoroastrianism and the Bahai'i faith. Monotheism often sets itself apart from other theistic beliefs by tending to be exclusive in nature, meaning the existence of other gods or other beliefs are sometimes denied or opposed.
Polytheism
The belief and worship of more than one deity. These gods and goddesses are typically grouped into a pantheon and are connected with the rituals and mythology that are part of a particular spiritual tradition. In polytheistic cultures individual deities may be known by more than one name and will often have particular abilities or areas of knowledge but aren't necessarily restricted to these. Some spiritual traditions that incorporate polytheism are Hinduism and some Neo-Pagan beliefs.
Pantheism
Pantheism is both a religious and metaphysical term in which one believes that God is not a separate being but is immanent within everything, or that nature, the universe and all life is divine. Because of this, pantheists often have a great reverence for the earth and nature. Some spiritual traditions hold certain pantheistic beliefs such as Taoism, Hinduism and some Neo-Pagan traditions.
Panentheism
Similar to pantheism, panentheism sees a god or divinity within all of nature but also separate and distinct from nature. God is typically viewed as a loving creator or an eternal energy within the universe, with all the universe being a manifestation of this creator or energy. Many spiritual traditions have panentheistic beliefs, such as the Eastern Orthodox church, New Thought Movement, Unitarian Universalism and Hinduism.
Animism
A belief in the existence of a spirit or soul within plants, animals, humans, inanimate objects and geographical features. Animism is not commonly a distinct belief but blends in with some religions or cultural folklore. Certain Shamanistic and Neo-Pagan traditions incorporate animistic beliefs such as Santeria, the traditional Japanese religion of Shinto and some Native American beliefs.
This gives you an idea of the many different ways in which deity or a sacred concept can be viewed and experienced.
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