duotheistic

Duotheistic refers to a religious framework in which two primary deities or divine forces are regarded as central to the cosmos and religious practice. It contrasts with monotheism, which posits a single supreme deity, and polytheism, which acknowledges many gods. In a duotheistic system, the two principal gods may be conceived as coequal rulers, complementary aspects of a single cosmic reality, or as opposing forces such as light and dark, or order and chaos. The two deities often anchor rituals, myths, and cosmology, while additional lesser gods or spirits may exist but are typically subordinate to the two principal powers.

Two-deity arrangements can take varied forms. Some traditions present the pair as a harmonious duo whose collaboration sustains creation and social order. Others depict a more dynamic relationship in which one god's action necessitates the other's response, or where balance between the two is an ethical or political ideal. In academic discussions, duotheism is often treated as a specific type of dualism or as a regional or historical variant within broader polytheistic systems.

Examples and interpretations of duotheism are debated among scholars. While historical narratives from different cultures sometimes exhibit dual-principal worship, contemporary religious movements may consciously frame their belief around two central deities. The term "duotheistic" thus describes a structural feature of belief rather than a fixed, universally defined creed.