Monotheism and polytheism are two very different belief systems. Monotheism is the belief in one god and polytheism is the belief in more one than one god. The concept of morality can and does exist within cultures that have only one god, as well as cultures that have multiple gods. Without morality, the world would be a place of extreme chaos and pandemonium. However, the foundation for morality within polytheistic religions is quite contradictory to the foundation for morality with monotheistic religions. Morality within polytheism is somewhat inconsistent and relative; whereas in monotheism, morality becomes more consistent and absolute. Morality exists throughout all cultures and religions of the world in some shape or form. In
For instance, suppose one has performed an act that causes a god to become ‘angry.’ Instead of receiving the wrath of that particular god, one decides to pursue another god that condones the act. Therefore, the followers become free to behave as he or she feels fit, and morality in polytheism can be considered relative. However, in some polytheistic religions, the followers choose only one of the many gods to be their main god, accepting their god’s definition of morality as their own. The followers acknowledge that there are other gods, but they do not accept the other god’s definitions of morality. Followers understand other gods to be but aspects of the one god they have chosen to worship. Therefore, each person has their own understanding of morality depending upon which god they choose to worship. The people do not impose their standards for morality on other another because they understand that each god has their set of standards for their followers. The concept of morality within these polytheistic religions is relative to which god is chosen as the main god, as well as inconsistent because one person is able to have a completely different set of standards as someone else in the same religion. The polytheistic system of religion provides flexibility and a relativistic lack of accountability. As mentioned before, a follower of polytheism is free to behave as he or she sees fit because