The terms "hard" and "soft" polytheism are relatively new in paganism. Scholars of ancient polytheism started using the terms in the early 2000s to differentiate these large disparities in ancient belief systems that before were lumped together. Naturally, pagans follow academics, and I believe it was Greer from ADF that first popularized the terms in modern paganism.
These words were meant to be a quick summation of how you see the gods, just a general idea. Instead of having to write out a whole essay on how you specifically think of the gods as beings, you could just slap this handy label on it.
They are not meant to be diametrically opposed, and therefore constantly debated.
They are not meant to be an entire identity.
You are not meant to choose either/or, it is a spectrum, and you might only lean one way.
Our labels are just simple, quick ways to connect with others. Because modern polytheists are so widely diverse, we have these little phrases we use to more easily talk to each other, no more than that.
@Cat_LeFey This is why I like the #Polycentric#Polytheism model of Butler, it transcends the soft and hard versions of polytheism and transcends them, to my mind at least.
@Cat_LeFey I think that serves as a good introduction as a lot of his other stuff is very in depth. This has the conclusions and concepts without the massive deep dive into #Platonism that's in some of his other works.
@Cat_LeFey Is early 2000s there a casual estimate, or perhaps do you know if the history has been studied? I only ask because I thought I saw it in use on Delphi Forums in the mid-late 90s. My memory is a bit fuzzy there, though, so it's possible I'm off by a bit.
@epilanthanomai Yeah, that was a while ago so I'm kinda estimating the year. There were a whole lot of shifts in Paganism happening in the late 90s when it became a little more mainstream. But by your comment, I'm guessing you lived through that as well, we're all a little fuzzy about it, lol
@dukeoffailure In a very broad sense, hard polytheists see the gods as distinct, separate beings. Sometimes each aspect is seen as separate. For example, I worship both Frigg and Freya separately. A soft polytheist might see the gods as aspects of a greater archetype. For example, Thor and Zeus both embody the "thunder god" archetype and might represent the same thing.
@Cat_LeFey
That makes sense. I think I’m probably closer to soft polytheism then with dashes of hard. I worship Freyr and Loki, and I mostly think of them as archetypes that gain form and power with belief. Like, Thor and Zeus may be the same archetype, but they’re two distinct entities based on the belief and worship of mortals.
@tierfreund This was a long time ago, so you'll have to forgive me for not remembering specifics, but I believe it was those studying specifically Hindu polytheism wanting to differentiate it from the "harder" polytheism of the ancient Greeks.
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