Polytheism

Via the Wild Hunt, I learn that art collective monochrom, “an art-technology-philosophy group of basket weaving enthusiasts and theory do-it-yourselfers,” has declared 2007 The International Year of Polytheism. Their manifesto declares:

The “International Year Of Polytheism” (powered by monochrom) wants to overcome the epoch of the monotheistic worldviews (and its derivatives such as “The West” and “The Arab World”) through the reconstruction of a polytheistic multiplicity in which countless gods and goddesses will eventually neutralize each other. Polytheism is democracy, Monotheism a dictatorship, even in its pseudo-secular form.

Freed from the servitude of monotheism and the fraternal strife of the trinity, the world would be redeemed in a chaotic baptism of multiplicity. Besides, we believe that polytheism is the most suitable form of religion for a modern, dynamic and cosmopolitan young culture. Improve your C.V. with polytheism. Create your own heavens and hells. Or try it out yourself with our special Gods/Goddesses trial subscription. Our qualified operators are standing by to take your calls!

So far, in honor of polytheism, they've performed “the symbolic liberation of Barium Nitrate” and done an art installation called “Premature Burial as a Field Trial for Near Death Activities.” I have absolutely no idea what these things have to do with polytheism.

I never quite know where the irony begins and ends with these euro art colletives. Which is, of course, the point.

I find myself already looking forward to the International Years of Pantheism, Atheism, Henotheism, Deism, Panentheism, and Acosmism.

I'd like to give Nihilism and Gnosticism a miss, though.