anthropotheism
|an-thro-po-the-ism|
/ˌænθrəpəˈθiːɪzəm/
deifying humans
Etymology
'anthropotheism' originates from Modern English, formed from Greek roots 'anthropos' and 'theos', where 'anthropos' meant 'human' and 'theos' meant 'god'.
'anthropotheism' was created in Modern English by combining the Greek element 'anthropo-' (from 'anthropos') with 'theism' (from Greek 'theos' plus the suffix '-ism'); related formations appear in Late Greek/Medieval usage such as 'anthropotheia' and in scholarly coinages of the 18th–19th centuries.
Initially coined to denote the idea or practice of treating humans as gods, the term has retained that core sense and is still used to describe both ritual worship of humans and theological doctrines asserting human divinity.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
worship or veneration of human beings as gods; the practice of treating humans as divine.
Some critics accused the movement of anthropotheism, arguing its leaders encouraged followers to treat certain people as literal deities.
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Noun 2
the doctrine or belief that humans are divine in nature or that divinity resides in humans (a theological or philosophical claim rather than ritual worship).
In some philosophical texts, anthropotheism is presented as the idea that human nature participates in the divine.
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Last updated: 2025/08/26 21:02