henotheismworshiping

Henotheism worshiping refers to a devotional framework in which adherents devote worship to one deity as supreme while acknowledging the existence or worship of other deities. It sits between monotheism and polytheism: monotheism asserts exclusive worship of a single god, while polytheism regards multiple gods as real and worthy of worship; henotheism allows a primary devotion without denying others.

In historical contexts, scholars identify henotheistic tendencies in ancient Vedic religion, where hymns often celebrate a leading god—such as Indra in some texts—while other deities are also revered. In Hindu practice, the concept of ishta devata—choosing a personal deity for daily devotion—embodies henotheistic patterns: a devotee focuses devotion on one god while recognizing the existence of many others. Similar arrangements appear in some strands of ancient Near Eastern and Egyptian religion, and in scholarly discussions of early Israelite religion, where Yahweh was worshiped as the supreme god within a broader pantheon.

Key features include devotion to a chosen deity, ritual and temple or home shrine practices centered on that god, and a flexible stance toward other deities rather than a firm doctrinal prohibition of their existence. The term is sometimes distinguished from kathenotheism, in which different deities may be regarded as supreme at different times or in different contexts.

In modern scholarship, henotheism is used descriptively to capture historical and regional devotional patterns rather than as a single doctrinal label. It is not a uniform system but a historical category applied to diverse religious traditions.