"Autotheism" redirects here. For the album by The Faceless, seeAutotheism (album).
Egotheism orautotheism (from Greekautos, 'self', andtheos, 'god') is the belief in thedivinity of oneself or the potential forself-deification.[1][2][3] This concept has appeared in various philosophical, religious, and cultural contexts throughout history, emphasizing the immanence of the divine or the individual's potential to achieve a godlike state.[4] While critics often interpret autotheism as self-idolatry or hubris,[5] proponents view it as a form of spiritual enlightenment or personal transcendence.[6]
Autotheistic beliefs can be traced back to ancient civilizations, where rulers and individuals were often deified. In ancient Egypt, pharaohs were declared gods during their reigns, merging their political and spiritual authority.[7]
In Indian Philosophy, identification of the self (atman) with the ultimate reality (Brahman), expressed in the phraseaham Brahmāsmi ("I am Brahman"). This reflects the idea that divinity resides inherently within the self and can be realized through spiritual awakening.[8] Similarly,Jainism teaches that one who extinguishes all of theirkarma becomes atirthankara withgodlike knowledge and powers.[9]
In medieval Christianity, certain heterodox groups, such as theAdamites,[10] believed in self-deification.[11]
Early individuals who declared themselves to be gods include the English prophetJohn Robins and Danilo Filipov, who led a heterodoxQuaker cult in Russia.[12][13]
During theProtestant Reformation,Henry VIII was accused of autolatry for asserting his authority over the Church of England, effectively positioning himself as the supreme spiritual authority.[14][15][16]
In the 18th century, Enlightenment thinker Jean-Jacques Rousseau proposed the idea of a civil religion to unify society, which critics accused of encouraging self-worship among citizens.[17][18][19][20][21][22]
In the 19th century,Transcendentalist philosophies emerged, withJohann Gottlieb Fichte andRalph Waldo Emerson emphasizing the divine potential of the individual. Critics labeled these ideas as "egotheism," accusing them of promoting excessive individualism.[23][24]
In the 19th century, Max Stirner advocated for a form of autotheism through his philosophy of egoism. In his workThe Ego and Its Own, Stirner argued that the individual is the ultimate authority and creator of meaning, rejecting external deities and societal constructs.[25]
Mormon beliefs incorporate autotheistic elements through the doctrine ofexaltation. This teaching holds that individuals can achieve godhood in the afterlife through faithfulness and spiritual progression, emphasizing the potential for divinity within each person.[31]
Contemporary spiritual movements, such as those influenced by New Thought, often emphasize the divinity of the individual and the potential for self-realization. These movements focus on personal empowerment and the belief that individuals can achieve a godlike state through self-awareness and positive thinking.
