inclusive monotheism

Inclusive monotheism is a religious concept that acknowledges the existence of many gods but asserts that all these deities are fundamentally the same. This perspective suggests that it makes little difference which god is invoked or by what ritual, as they are all one.1

This view was characteristic of ancient Hellenistic religions, where various divine names could refer to the same essential divinity. For instance, the goddess Isis was described as being adored throughout the world under many names and customs. Similarly, in Greco-Roman religions, tendencies toward inclusive monotheism arose, particularly in later periods, influenced by philosophy, Judaism, and Christianity. Hymns to Zeus, for example, praised him as the essence of divinity in all gods, the creator and ruler of the cosmos. This concept was also prevalent in the mystery religions and later philosophical schools of antiquity.12