Long before the rise of civilization, mankind has looked to nature to connect to the divine. Even before agriculture and formal writing on paper, wood, clay or stone, some of the first artwork on cave walls and carved in stone have been representations of animals or human figures with strong connections to primal forces. These beings eventually came to be known as the gods and goddesses of formal polytheistic religions – replete with powerful temples, clergy and the vibrant, painted statuary that filled every temenos in the ancient world. Regardless of the culture, polytheism has made its presence known around the world. Though it may seem hard to conceive in a world full of orthodox monotheism and militant atheism, it is these ideas which are ultimately the enduring legacy of mankind.
Many centuries later, as the power of orthodox monotheism has waned and militant atheists have grown far quieter in an era of great disillusionment, people around the world have been looking to the past for inspiration. Though much of this desire for the past has manifested in pop culture nostalgia from recent decades, there has also been a major resurgence of romanticism – particularly within alternative subcultures. Many people are enjoying the creative, mythic themes in the books and games they’ve enjoyed over the years, and these ideas have found themselves in new media – whether through text, interactive games or engaging music. As this desire for the past has grown, so too has the depth of retrieval. Seeing the failures of absolutism within the monotheism and atheism of modern discourse, people have sought out the primality of polytheism once again.
Though much of our attempts to draw from the past have been sincere, many of the new traditions that have been formed – often through revivals or reconstructions – have mired the true legacy of ancient spirituality. The inherent value of these ancient principles have often been lost in the noise of debate, pedantry and elitism that dominates modern discourse in every community. Though alternative minded people and pagans in particular are well acquainted with the need for solidarity, as pagan and polytheistic traditions have grown, so too has the power of elitists and authoritarians. Whether it is through radical politics, cultural exclusion, taboos about esoteric practice, or the creation of virtual bureaucracies, in the pagan community, monotheistic orthodoxy has simply been replaced by polytheistic orthodoxy.
Though this may be hard for many polytheists to hear – particularly in the pagan and reconstructionist space, no matter what efforts are made to restore the formalities of ancient polytheism, religious expression as a whole has fundamentally changed in modern times. Much like the rest of culture in the modern era, religious expression has increasingly become decentralized and personal. People no longer get their news and entertainment from establishment sources – favoring influencers and other online users to learn and develop their ideas. Spirituality is no different in this regard. In lieu of the individualism that has grown in modern times, it is clear that a better approach is needed. The orthodoxy of monotheism, atheism, reconstructionism, occultism and many other philosophies are ultimately untenable in the world that is unfolding before us.
Increasingly, many people in broader society have moved away from formal religious communities in favor of a more personal approach. Though the terminology has been considered contentious and confusing, spiritual but not religious folks, as it were, are a demographic of people that have been growing at a very fast pace. Despite what many atheists and monotheists might tell you, these spiritual people are generally not atheists or even necessarily agnostic. They are simply people who lack formal religious affiliation. Though scholars of religion and sociology have often contended that there is no meaningful difference between religion and spirituality, the fact remains that an increasing large number of people are disaffected by religious institutions, and would rather consider themselves to be spiritual – rather than align themselves to people that would gaslight them.
Much of the true impedance for everyday people to engage in polytheism is not simply because of the weirdness or alternative culture often associated with ostensibly pagan communities and events – nor is it necessarily fear they harbor from a monotheistic upbringing. Though some pagan communities are politically driven, that’s ultimately a problem much bigger than religion as a whole. The real reason that many spiritual but not religious people aren’t considering polytheism is because they are seeing much of the same orthodoxy that forced them to leave mainstream religions in the first place. They are seeing the same kinds of gatekeeping and elitism that left a bad taste in their mouth in the years before their departure from institutions.
Though traditionalists will tell you otherwise, the path to devotion does not require adherence to the human authority of institutions – nor does it require social conformity or particular cultural trappings to be meaningful. The only meaningful authority is that which is conferred to us by the gods. Their divine power is known to us as independent individuals and may be communicated through any deity in any culture. A polytheist can worship any deity which calls them to worship – from any pantheon or groups of pantheons. Formal religious affiliation is unnecessary and often creates hindrances towards the path to genuine faith. Each polytheist is free to cultivate their own unique path and cultivate personal relationships with all of the deities they worship – whether they worship through the lens of hard polytheism, henotheism or monolatry.
As the true source of faith is ultimately personal, absent the uselessness of religious formalities, polytheists of every stripe are free to associate with each other however they please. The most ideal manner of communal religious expression is small, intimate gatherings of like-minded polytheists. Though there are certainly exceptions, large, formal religious communities – whether offline or online – are the most guilty of tribalistic, partisan beliefs and activities. Many of them – both within paganism and outside of it – have become far too political. This polarization is not caused by religion inherently, but is amplified by the current state of culture. That said, humans are social creatures and invariably will choose to create communities to gather people with shared spiritual values. Though such spaces have often been culturally specific, in the generations that follow, they will likely become far more blended and idiosyncratic. When formed, we should remain ever vigilant and ensure that they don’t impede personal faith.
When faith in gods and goddesses is engaged in without institutions, many assumptions about proper worship and spiritual lifestyles fall away as well. Independent polytheists can allow the divine to guide them towards the approach that is best for them – whether or not that is drawn from historical inspirations, personal temperament or life experiences. Though some may indeed connect their faith to their heritage, all manner of other influences can shape the nature of devotion for practitioners of polytheism.
Polytheism evolves in the life of a devotee, and the worship of different deities – as well as relevant syncretism – are as distinctive as each practitioner. What ultimately remains constant, however, is the nature of devotional practice itself. Removed from unnecessary distinctions, all rituals are ultimately forms of prayer. Though detailed praxis may be adopted, ritual need not be more complex than personal prayer. Though physical offerings – both of food, libations and votive items – can be given to those who feel compelled, they are ultimately expressions of the same devotion that form the foundation of sincere prayer. When devotees dedicate themselves to deities, it is the piety and reverence they show in their daily lives that is the truest manifestation of faith – whether it’s helping friends and family, self-care, work or volunteering.
True cultivation of virtue is meant to transform the character of a devotee, and unlike the insincerity of many monotheists, reflects a true personal relationship with the divine – one that is constantly tested by an ignorant, antagonistic Western society. The majority of people in the West are programmed to believe that you either support the authority of Abrahamic institutions or embrace the disbelieving nihilism of materialistic atheism. The whole of western society is driven by the idea of a fallen world and dangerous delusions of utopian futures – whether it’s through Christian apologetics or radical politics. Independent, unaligned, primal polytheistic practice is one that truly connects us to nature and the unspoken, powerful truths conferred through our own spiritual instincts. It is through this connection that we are truly free.