Consider the following definition of monotheism (from Wikipedia):

Monotheism (in Greek μόνος = single and θεός = God), in contrast with polytheism, is the belief in the one, single, universal, all-encompassing God.

Wikipedia further defines "polytheistic belief systems" as follows:

In polytheistic belief systems, gods are conceived as complex personages of greater or lesser status, with individual skills, needs, desires and stories. Usually such gods are not omnipotent or omniscient; rather, they are often portrayed as similar to humans in their personality traits, but with additional individual powers, abilities, knowledge or perceptions.

Without deciding which system of religious belief is "right," discuss the positive and negative sides of both monotheism and polytheism (you may break into groups to do so). What benefit might there be in a "single, universal, all-encompassing God" (and what do those descriptive terms really mean?)? What sorts of problems--both metaphysical and practical--might monotheism present? Can you think of ways around these problems? Does polytheism present its own problems?

Some strategies for thinking about the problem:

1. Is any monotheism really a total, absolute monotheism? Or do most monotheistic systems find ways around the absolute singularity of one God? (For example: what are angels? What is the Devil?)

2. Think of other systems of life and how they operate: family, politics, school, other organizations. Do they work better with a "single, universal, all-compassing" figure at the top, or with "personages of greater or lesser status, with individual skills, needs, [and] desires"? How much do your assumptions about these other systems affect your views on monotheism and polytheism?

3. Is consideration of gender or gender roles important in this discussion? (e.g., Can "God" be "Goddess"?)

4. Can you think of ways to combine the benefits of monotheism and polytheism?

More to think about:

Here are some other terms, often invented by scholars, to play with the differences between monotheism and polytheism:

Henotheism: "devotion to a single god while accepting the existence of other gods."

Monolatry: a belief that "that many gods do exist, but these gods can exert their power only on those who worship them."

Kathenotheism: "the worship of one god at a time... depending on [the worshipers'] locality or the time."

Pantheism: "the view that everything is of an all-encompassing immanent God; or that the universe, or nature, and God are equivalent."

Deism: often understood as the "belief that God created but does not intervene in the world."