In Praise of Polytheism

In this punchy yet flawed polemic, Bettini (Anthropology and Roman Culture), professor at Italy’s University of Siena, presents polytheism as a preferable alternative to monotheistic religions. Arguing that monotheism fails to meet the challenges of a pluralistic world, he posits that polytheism, and Roman polytheism in particular, can help societies navigate political, social, and religious diversity. In ancient Roman practice, “citizenship” was sometimes granted to foreign gods; meanwhile, larariums (everyday Roman house shrines) often depicted menageries of “ancestors, god-like emperors, philosophers, poets and writers, heroes, saints, and moral guides.” This pluralistic spirit, he contends, underlines how polytheism can promote cultural coexistence, a notion he contrasts to contemporary notions of individualism and anti-immigrant sentiment. Unfortunately, Bettini flattens monotheism to a narrow set of beliefs and texts (the Roman Catholic Catechism, Augustine’s writings, etc.), which downplays the pliability of its religions over time. He also underemphasizes how Roman polytheism served imperial powers, while often harming local faith practices. By not truly engaging how any religion—monotheistic, polytheistic, or otherwise—can be wielded to unfairly advantage those in power, his argument ends up lopsided, if only in a polytheistic direction. While Bettini’s desire to argue for cultural pluralism is commendable, this book falls short of its lofty aims. (Jan.)