Both words have meaning useful to the discussion (and both are usually
misused).  At least, let us try to use the word we actually mean instead of
what comes to mind quickly.  Pantheism is a worship of all gods or the
belief that "god is everywhere in everything".   Pantheon, generically, is
the gods of a people, taken as a whole.  For purposes of our discussion, a
pantheon would thus entail all gods which a given people are aware of or
acknowledge.  Polytheism is the opposite of monotheism--the belief
in/worship of many gods.  A semantic problem emerges for most people because
pantheism and pantheon do not share the same meaning despite their common
linguistic origin.  Polytheists have pantheons, pantheists do not.
(Monotheists have one true God and typically a pseudo-pantheon of 'false
gods/demons'.)

To give an in game example, the Onagir with their belief in the obeah are
pantheists.  Mir, following Miracradasa as their chosen god from amoung
many, is a polytheist nation.  Since Mir knows of and acknowledges the
worship of Lucia, Lucia (along with Miracradasa et. al.) is part of Mir's
pantheon.  The Eerith espouse the utter sovergienty of the Creator.  If they
dismissed Lucia as a false god, they would be pure monotheists.  As it is,
they believe that Lucia, Miracradasa, et. al. are facets of the Creator and
don't repudiate them.  This makes them soft (or accomodating) Monotheists
with Lucia as part of their pseudo-pantheon.  (Confused?  Studying cultural
mythography is like getting hit in the head with a stick.)

If it helps, the short form is this:  theisms (poly or pan) are beliefs.
Pantheons are lists.

Sorry for being pedantic,
MK


----- Original Message -----
From: 
To: 
Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2004 10:13 PM
Subject: Re: [Cel] [World] Trying It Again


> Since the religious situation in Celandra does not bear any significant
> resemblance to real world beliefs, I would urge people to stop using the
term
> "pantheon" in any discussion of religious belief or organization.  I would
suggest
> the term "polytheon" in its place.
>
> Jefferson (Exquaestio)
> http://www.picotech.net/~jeff_wilson63/rpg/
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