In Praise of Polytheism

Maurizio Bettini, Douglas Grant Heise

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Hardback

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English

University of California Press
29 March 2023

Religion & beliefs; Nature & existence of God; Ancient religions & mythologies

What ancient polytheistic religions can teach us about building inclusive and equitable futures.

At the heart of this book is a simple comparison: monotheistic religions are exclusive, whereas ancient polytheistic religions are inclusive. In this thought-provoking book, Maurizio Bettini, one of today’s foremost classicists, uses the expansiveness of ancient polytheism to shine a bright light on a darker corner of our modern times.

It can be easy to see ancient religions as inferior, less free, and remote from shared visions of a more inclusive world. But, as Bettini deftly shows, many ancient practices tended to produce results aligned with contemporary progressive values, like pluralism and diversity. In Praise of Polytheism does not chastise the modern world or blame monotheism for all our woes but rather shows in clear, sharp prose how much we can learn from ancient religions, underscoring the limitations of how we view the world and ourselves today.

By: Maurizio Bettini
Translated by: Douglas Grant Heise
Imprint: University of California Press
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 210mm, Width: 140mm, Spine: 20mm
Weight: 318g
ISBN: 9780520342248
ISBN 10: 0520342240
Pages: 164
Publication Date: 29 March 2023
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Maurizio Bettini is Professor of Classical Philology at the University of Siena, where he is Director of the Center for the Anthropology of the Ancient World. He is author of more than twenty scholarly books and five novels, including winners of the Prix Bristol des Lumières and the Premio Letterario Mondello.

Reviews for In Praise of Polytheism

Posits that polytheism, and Roman polytheism in particular, can help societies navigate political, social, and religious diversity. * Publishers Weekly *