Typologically, then, what we have, instead of polytheism, is something that might be better understood as
henotheism.
Henotheism (sometimes referred to as kathenotheism), first applied to Vedic religion in India by Max Muller, (56) encompasses the belief in multiple gods but the interaction with only one at a time and an allegiance to one.
Monolatry is also, or sometimes instead, called
henotheism. Scholars tend to distinguish between the latter two, but there is no consensus on the difference.
This sounds reasonable enough, but Friedman ignores the vast amount of evidence for the belief and practice of
henotheism before the Exile.
The assignment of the fifty names closes this process because it represents a move toward
henotheism through name giving; therefore, no other god can possibly take the place of Marduk (p.
The Meccan verses are early in the Prophet Muhammed's Ministry and focus on preaching monotheism and morality, and rejecting
Henotheism and Polytheism.
Polytheism is divided according to how the individual deities are regarded as two faiths: (1)
Henotheism and (2) Kathenotheism.
Thou shalt not bow thyself down to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me." (40a) Remarkably, this commandment--a central tenet of the Hebrew faith--meets the definition of
henotheism, not monotheism as traditionally understood in European culture.
(17) Or even just the supposedly more "primitive"
henotheism, addressing the highest among other gods.
[According to Aslan,] idols and images relating to "polytheism,
henotheism, monotheism, Christianity, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Hanifism, paganism in all its varieties," were all deposited in the black cube of the Ka'bah in Mecca, as a sort of repository for the gods, until Muhammad's revelations caused their removal.