3.56
Allow me to sketch a bit of a typology of onto-theological possibilities within a world:[1]
Onto-theological polytheism:
- A group can have both spectrum and prismatic gods (the ancient Greeks).
- Without a prismatic god, the spectrum gods could share a family resemblance with each other—i.e., a kind of close, common lineage—which, from my account, we treat as if it were a prismatic god.
- A group can be without spectrum gods: for example, there are many intensity spirits, with or without a prismatic god (again, there may be only a family resemblance which we call a prismatic god).
- (Ancestors take on various forms, ranging from ghosts, to intensity spirits, to spectrum gods.)
Onto-theological monotheism:
- A group may fit this category when it’s without spectrum gods and intensity spirits. Here, the group has its own, one god.
We can also consider onto-theological possibilities outside one’s world.
- (Local-) globalized monotheism: A monotheistic group insists other groups don’t have spectrum gods, prismatic gods, or intensity spirits.
- (Local-) globalized polytheism: A polytheistic group insists other groups are devoid of spirits and gods.
- (Local-) monotheism or polytheism: A monotheistic or polytheistic group is open to there being other gods for other groups.
[1] I set aside countless permutations to draw this outline out: for example, complications posed by trinitarian or pantheistic conceptions.