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Kathenotheism is a concept in religious studies that refers to worshipping one god at a time as supreme while accepting the existence of other gods. The term was coined by the German scholar Max Müller in the nineteenth century to describe specific practices in ancient polytheistic religions, particularly in the Vedic tradition of Hinduism. In kathenotheism, different gods are elevated to the status of the supreme deity in different contexts or rituals, depending on the needs or focus of the worshiper at that time. This distinguishes kathenotheism from henotheism, in which one god maintains a supreme status in the midst of many gods.
Kathenotheism is distinct from strict monotheism, where only one God is worshiped. It is also different from polytheism, where multiple gods are worshiped simultaneously. Kathenotheism allows for rotational and situational worship, where people might regard one god as the most important in one context and another god as supreme in a different situation.
Unlike kathenotheism, Christianity is grounded in the worship of one God who is sovereign, eternal, and the Creator of all things. The Bible consistently affirms that there is only one God, and He alone is worthy of worship. Christians must, therefore, reject the worship of other gods or idols.
The Bible teaches that there is only one true God. He alone is to be worshiped. Deuteronomy 6:4 says, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” Isaiah 45:5–6 reinforces biblical monotheism: “I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me, there is no God. Though you have not acknowledged me, I will strengthen you so that from the sun’s rising to the place of its setting, people may know there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other.” God demands exclusive worship from His people: “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3).
In 1 Corinthians 8:4–6, Paul addresses the issue of other gods: “So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that ‘An idol is nothing at all in the world’ and that ‘There is no God but one.’ For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many ‘gods’ and many ‘lords’), yet for us, there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.” Others may believe in multiple gods, but Paul says this is unacceptable for believers.
Jesus Christ is not just one god among many, but the ultimate revelation of God. He is the incarnate Son of God, fully divine and fully human. In Colossians 1:15–17, Paul writes, “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him, all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Christ is supreme over all creation, and He alone should be worshiped. He is the fullness of God (Colossians 2:9).
Christians are to worship God exclusively, avoiding the syncretism that kathenotheism might encourage. With its rotational worship of multiple gods, kathenotheism stands in stark contrast to the Christian belief in one sovereign God. The Bible repeatedly affirms God’s oneness, the rejection of other gods, and Christ’s supremacy. In a world where many beliefs and practices exist, the Christian response to kathenotheism is not just to acknowledge the contrast but to remain steadfast in the exclusive worship of the one true God, as revealed in Scripture.
