multigod

Multigod is a term used to describe belief in multiple deities within a single religious system or cosmology. It denotes a framework in which several gods preside over different domains—such as creation, weather, war, or harvest—and interact with the mortal world. The concept contrasts with monotheism, which centers on a single god, and with more diffuse spiritual systems that lack discrete deities. Multigod is not a rigid scholarly category; in academic religion, terms such as polytheism, polytheistic religion, or pantheism are more common. The word “multigod” is often encountered in worldbuilding, popular discussions of religion, or descriptive summaries of complex belief landscapes.

In practice, multigod systems can vary from loosely organized pantheons with personal deities to structured hierarchies where gods hold defined roles, statuses, and factions. Ritual practice, mythic narratives, and religious institutions typically align with specific deities or groups of deities. Over time, deities may be merged, syncretized, or reinterpreted with other divine figures, producing richer or more fluid pantheons. Rivalries or alliances among gods can reflect social and political dynamics within cultures that worship them.

See also: polytheism, pantheon, henotheism, syncretism, religious pluralism.