Worshiping one god among a pantheon of gods – are Judaism and Christianity henotheistic?

This post traces the origin of worship. It aims to give clues to how the Atlanteans worshiped. It does not try to discredit today’s religions.

Henotheism

Worshiping one god among a pantheon of gods is called henotheism. It means devotion to a single deity while accepting that other gods exist or may be worshiped. The term was made popular in the 19th century by Max Müller, who used it for the religion of the Vedas. The idea often appears in polytheistic religions. There one god is the main focus of worship, for a person or a group. The other gods in the pantheon are not necessarily denied.

Judaism is strictly monotheistic. It holds that there is one God only. Judaism fully denies that other gods exist and affirms that God is absolutely one. The central Jewish prayer, the Shema (“Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one”, Deuteronomy 6:4), expresses this idea. So Judaism does not fit the definition of henotheism. It does not accept other gods or the worship of any deity besides the one God.

The Roman Catholic Church is also monotheistic. It teaches belief in one God who exists in three persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit. This is often called the Holy Trinity. Catholicism honors saints and figures such as the Virgin Mary, but they are not worshiped as gods. Worship goes to the one God alone. Saints and Mary are honored, or prayed to so that they will speak to God on a person’s behalf. This is not henotheism. It belongs within a monotheistic framework that stresses the different roles or aspects of one divine being.

Henotheism means worshiping one god only while accepting that other gods may exist. That differs from the strict monotheism of Judaism and of the Roman Catholic Church. So neither can be called henotheistic. Each holds that there is one God only and recognizes no other gods in any theological sense.

But are gods like Baal, Asherah, Molech, and others mentioned in the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) and the Old Testament?

Other deities such as Baal and Asherah are mentioned in the Bible. The way they are mentioned is very different from a henotheistic acceptance of their worship.

Other Gods in the Bible

The Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) and the Old Testament mention deities like Baal, Asherah, Molech and others. This happens mostly in connection with Israel’s neighbors, such as the Canaanites and Phoenicians. These mentions do not mean the Israelites accepted or worshiped these gods alongside their own. The references are usually negative. They often condemn Israelites who had slipped into worshiping these gods alongside their own.

Monotheistic Framework

The core belief of Judaism is that there is only one true God. The Bible presents the worship of other gods as a breach of the covenant between the Israelites and their God (Yahweh). Throughout the story, prophets and leaders such as Elijah and Moses urge the Israelites to give up these false gods and return to Yahweh alone. The First Commandment states plainly, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). Throughout the Bible, the worship of other gods is idolatry, and it is strongly condemned.

Other gods are acknowledged in one sense: surrounding peoples worshiped them. Judaism insists these gods are not real or have no power like Yahweh’s. Yahweh is seen as the only true, all-powerful God. In the monotheistic view, other gods are in the end powerless or false idols, not true divine beings.

Early Israelite Religion and Monolatry

Some scholars debate whether early Israelite religion was monolatrous. Monolatry is a practice in which many gods are acknowledged but only one is worshiped. Many scholars see this as an earlier stage of Israelite belief. It later grew into the strict monotheism of later Judaism.

Monolatry can look like henotheism, since it focuses worship on one god without denying others. Over time, Judaism moved away from that framework and denied that any other god was real. For a wider look at how the Creator, human gods and gods from the stars have been told apart, see The Creator, Human Gods, Gods from the Stars.

Henotheism vs. Judaism and Catholicism

• Henotheism accepts that others may rightly worship other gods, while putting one god first for oneself.
• In Judaism, other gods are named in order to condemn them as false. Worshiping them was a grave sin (idolatry).
• The Roman Catholic Church does much the same. It acknowledges historical or cultural references to other gods but does not accept that they are divine. It also stresses the rejection of idolatry and holds all other gods to be false.

So the mentions of gods like Baal and Asherah in the Bible show how hard it was for Israel to stay monotheistic among polytheistic neighbors. They do not show a theological acceptance of these gods of the kind henotheism has. The Bible discusses them in order to reject and condemn their worship in favor of one God over all.

And the mention of Elyon?

The term Elyon (also spelled Elyown or Elyohn) is a Hebrew word meaning “Most High.” The Hebrew Bible often uses it to mark the supreme status of God. It stresses His rule and His high place above all creation. The title points to God’s final authority and power over the universe, and to His role as supreme ruler and protector.

In the Bible, El Elyon joins “El” (a general word for God) with “Elyon.” Together they mean “God Most High.” The title expresses the height and majesty of God. In Genesis 14:18–20, for example, Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High, blesses Abram and names God as the “possessor of heaven and earth.”

“Elyon” in the Bible reflects the monotheistic belief in one supreme God. Other gods like Baal and Asherah are mentioned, but as false idols whose worship is condemned. The title “Elyon” supports the view of God as the highest authority. He is separate from and above any deities the surrounding cultures knew.

I’m still a bit confused. So monotheism is the worship of one god, but it recognizes other gods, but they are not worshipped, right?

Not quite. Monotheism is belief in and worship of only one God. It openly denies that any other gods exist or are divine. A monotheistic religion recognizes no other gods as real or valid in any way. Here is how the three ideas differ.

Monotheism

• Belief: There is only one true God, and no other gods exist.
• Worship: Worship goes to this one God alone.
• Attitude Toward Other Gods: Monotheism openly denies that any other gods are real or divine. When other gods are mentioned, it is often to show that they are false or powerless.
• Example: Judaism, Christianity and Islam hold that all other gods are false or do not exist.

In Judaism and Christianity, for instance, gods like Baal and Asherah are not mentioned because anyone believes they really exist. They are mentioned because people worship them as false idols. The Bible describes these “other gods” to condemn their worship and urge believers to follow the one true God.

Henotheism

• Belief: One main god is worshiped, but other gods may exist. They may even deserve worship in other settings or from other people.
• Worship: One god is chosen as the main focus of devotion. Other deities are acknowledged but not actively worshiped.
• Attitude Toward Other Gods: Henotheism accepts that many gods exist but treats one as especially important. It does not deny that other gods are real or rightful.
• Example: Early Vedic religion in India is seen as henotheistic. Deities like Agni, Indra and others were worshiped mainly according to the situation, while the others were still acknowledged.

Monolatry

• Belief: As in henotheism, other gods are acknowledged to exist.
• Worship: Only one god deserves worship. The other gods are acknowledged but not actively worshiped.
• Example: The ancient Israelites may have practiced monolatry at certain times. They worshiped Yahweh alone, but accepted that other gods existed and were worshiped by other peoples, or by Israelites before stricter monotheism took hold.

Biblical Context

When the Bible mentions gods like Baal or Asherah, it does not grant that they are real or rightful gods. It records that neighboring cultures, and even some Israelites, worshiped them, and it condemns that practice. The Bible names these deities to:

• Show the temptations and conflicts the Israelites faced among polytheistic cultures.
• Stress that the covenant with Yahweh is exclusive. God condemns the worship of these other beings as idolatry again and again.

The Ten Commandments say, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). This does not mean other gods really exist. It means the Israelites must not recognize or worship any other gods, because these are seen as false.

Summary

• Monotheism: Only one God exists. Other “gods” are false or do not exist.
• Henotheism: Worship centers on one god, but other gods may exist and deserve worship.
• Monolatry: Only one god is worshiped. Others are acknowledged but not worshiped.

Monotheism rejects any other gods as real or rightful. Henotheism and monolatry acknowledge them but choose to focus worship on one deity.

But how can you deny the reality of other gods if they are mentioned in the context of the ‘one’ god?

The answer lies in a subtle point about religious texts and practices. This matters most in ancient settings where different cultures met and competed.

Other gods appear alongside the ‘one true God’ not because their reality is accepted. They appear because of the cultural world the ancient Israelites and early Christians lived in. Here is how that works.

Acknowledgement vs. Recognition of Reality

Cultural Acknowledgement:

In the ancient Near East, each culture and people had its own gods. This polytheistic world surrounded the early Israelites. The Bible names gods like Baal, Asherah and Molech because the Israelites lived among neighbors who widely worshiped these deities.

Naming these deities records that other groups believed in them and worshiped them. It does not mean the Bible’s authors thought these gods were divine. They were real only in the sense that people believed in them, made idols of them and held rituals in their honor.

Rejection of Divine Reality:

Monotheism, especially as it grew in Judaism, rejects that any god besides the one true God (Yahweh) is truly divine or exists at all.

When the Bible speaks of other gods, it usually condemns or rejects them. It often calls them mere idols: physical objects of wood, stone or metal, made by human hands. The Bible insists these idols are powerless and cannot compare to the living God of Israel.

In Isaiah 44:9-20, for example, the uselessness of idol worship is spelled out. Idols are only human creations, with no real power or divinity.

Context of Commandments and Laws:

The First Commandment (“Thou shalt have no other gods before me” – Exodus 20:3) is part of the covenant between Yahweh and the Israelites. It does not suggest that other gods actually exist. It acknowledges that people at the time worshiped other deities. Its purpose is to tell the Israelites to reject these practices and worship Yahweh alone.

The command is about loyalty. It does not grant other gods equal divinity. It sets the Israelites apart from other peoples, devoted to Yahweh alone.

Polemic Against Other Gods:

Naming other gods also serves as a polemic, an argument against other belief systems. The Bible names gods like Baal and Asherah and describes their worship in a negative light. This marks them as false and powerless next to Yahweh, who appears as supreme and the only true God.

Elijah’s contest with the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18 is an example. It shows Yahweh’s power over Baal in public, to make clear to the Israelites that Baal has no real power.

Wait.. The First Commandment suggests that other gods exist. If they didn’t exist, then there would have been no reason to include this commandment?

Scholars and readers of religious texts often debate this point. Here is a closer look.

Different Interpretations of the Commandment

The First Commandment, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3), can be read in different ways, depending on the theological and historical view.

Practical Recognition of Other Deities:

• The commandment acknowledges that people at the time worshiped other deities. In practice these deities mattered, because people believed in them and worshiped them.
• The commandment was given to a community surrounded by polytheistic belief. Canaanites, Egyptians, Babylonians and others had well-established pantheons. For the Israelites, these cultures and their gods were a real part of daily life.
• So the commandment can be read as Yahweh telling the Israelites to give up these other objects of worship. They were to give their worship and loyalty to Him alone. It draws a line between the Israelites and their polytheistic neighbors. The wording takes account of what people actually did. It does not necessarily confirm that other divine beings exist.

Denial of the True Divinity of Other Gods:

• If the commandment acknowledges other gods, that does not mean it accepts them as real, rightful gods.
• Theologically, the commandment is often read this way: other beings may be called “gods,” but they have no true divinity or power compared to Yahweh. They are false idols, products of human superstition, or spirits that are nothing next to the one Creator God.
• The commandment tells people not to recognize or worship these beings in any way that competes with Yahweh or puts them on His level. In this sense it flatly denies their divinity. It still acknowledges that people treat these beings as divine and worship them.

Polytheism vs. Monotheism

• In a polytheistic culture, many gods existed side by side. Worshipers could honor several gods for specific needs (e.g., a god of rain, a god of harvest).
• The First Commandment was revolutionary. It made a clear claim of exclusivity: no other being should receive the worship or regard given to Yahweh. It did not necessarily deny that other peoples or cultures had gods. It commanded the Israelites that for them, no other god should exist or hold power.

Historical Development and Monolatry

• Early Israelite religion may have been more monolatrous than strictly monotheistic. Monolatry is the worship of one god without denying that other gods exist. It could explain why the commandment is worded as it is.
• Over time, Jewish theology defined monotheism more fully. It became a belief system that flatly denies any other gods exist or are rightful.

Practical Perspective: Influence on the Community

• Picture a community whose neighbors worship Baal, Asherah and other deities. For that community those gods have a social reality. There are temples, rituals and idols, and the beliefs of others have influence.
• The commandment was needed because those influences were real and present. People could be tempted, or simply pressed by the cultures around them, to take up these gods alongside Yahweh.
• So the commandment forbade being drawn into these rival forms of worship. It declared that Yahweh is the only true God the Israelites were to follow. None of these other “gods” were to be taken seriously in any way.

Theological Perspective: Idols as Empty or False

• Throughout the Hebrew Bible, prophets and religious leaders describe other gods as “idols made by human hands.” They cannot speak, think or act. They often appear as powerless objects, which stresses that Yahweh alone is the true, living God.
• In Jeremiah 10:5, for example, idols are described as “upright as the palm tree, but speak not.” They cannot speak, move or do anything at all. This shows that these “gods” are seen as meaningless objects, wholly unlike Yahweh.

The First Commandment was needed because of where it was given: in a culture surrounded by polytheism and steeped in it. It does not imply that other gods truly exist as divine or rightful beings. It acknowledges the social reality of these gods. People worshiped them, made idols of them and honored them with rituals. The commandment drew a clear line. For the Israelites, Yahweh alone was God, and no one else was to receive the same honor or worship.

The commandment does not grant other gods equal divinity. It calls for devotion to Yahweh alone. Other worshiped beings and idols were acknowledged as a cultural fact, not as a divine reality.