The Complexity of Defining Monotheism, Polytheism, and Dualism in Late Antiquity

In this podcast episode, the speaker discusses the difficulty of defining the terms monotheism, polytheism, and dualism in late antiquity. The episode explores how these terms are not clear-cut academic categories but more like flavors or approaches. The example is given of how belief in one god does not necessarily make someone a monotheist, as late Platonists considered themselves monotheists but were also seen as polytheists. Similarly, belief in multiple gods does not make someone a polytheist, as some Christians who referred to angels and planets as gods were still considered monotheists. The episode argues that these terms have complexities and nuances that require exploration to understand their meanings in different contexts.