henoteistisena

Henoteistisena is a term used in some religious studies discussions to describe a stance within a polytheistic framework in which a devotee concentrates worship on a single deity while acknowledging the existence of other gods. It is a neologism and is not part of the standard taxonomy of established scholarship; its use appears mainly in online discourse and speculative worldbuilding contexts. The word draws loosely on Greek roots, with hen meaning one and theos meaning god, combined with a suffix intended to signal a doctrinal position.

Core ideas associated with henoteistisena involve devotion to a chosen god as the primary focus of worship, prayers, and ritual without denying the reality or presence of a broader pantheon. Practitioners may participate in communal rites honoring other deities, but the elevated veneration centers on their selected deity. Ethical norms and festival observances are typically aligned with the attributes and mythos of the favored god, while still situating the pantheon as a broader religious landscape.

Relation to other terms: henoteistisena is closest to henotheism and monolatry, but it is distinguished by its particular naming and emphasis as a doctrinal stance. It is not universally adopted in scholarship, where clearer distinctions between monotheism, monolatry, and henotheism prevail. In practice, the term is most often encountered in comparative discussions or fantasy literature rather than in canonical descriptions of historical traditions.

See also: henotheism, monolatry, monotheism, religious syncretism.