monolatriaa

Monolatria is a religious concept that describes the worship of a single god while not denying the existence of other gods. In a monolatristic system, devotees focus their reverence and allegiance exclusively on one deity, but they acknowledge that other deities are recognized by other peoples or even by different factions within their own society. This stands in contrast to monotheism, which asserts that only one god exists.

Historically, monolatria is often seen as a transitional stage between polytheism, the worship of multiple gods, and strict monotheism. In ancient Israelite religion, for example, the worship of Yahweh as the supreme and exclusive god for the Israelite people is often characterized as monolatria, particularly during periods before the absolute denial of other gods became a central tenet. The Hebrew Bible contains passages that suggest the existence of other deities while commanding the exclusive worship of Yahweh.

The practice of monolatria involves dedicating prayers, sacrifices, and other forms of worship to a specific deity, considering them to be the patron or supreme deity of a particular group, nation, or individual. While other gods may be acknowledged in a general sense, they are not actively worshipped or given the same level of devotion as the primary god. This distinction is crucial; monolatria is about exclusive worship, not necessarily about exclusive existence.