Concept
Teotl
Overview
Teōtl ([ˈte.oːt͡ɬ]) is a Nahuatl term for sacredness or divinity that is sometimes translated as 'god'. For the Aztecs teotl was the metaphysical omnipresence upon which their religious philosophy was based.
As described by James Maffie, teotl "is essentially power: continually active, actualized, and actualizing energy-in-motion... It is an ever-continuing process, like a flowing river... It continually and continuously generates and regenerates as well as permeates, encompasses and shapes reality as part of an endless process. It creates the cosmos and all its contents from within itself as well as out of itself."
This is conceptualized in a kind of monistic pantheism as manifest in the supreme god Ōmeteōtl, as well as a large pantheon of lesser gods and idealizations of natural phenomena such as stars and fire.
Similar concepts to teotl existed elsewhere in Mesoamerica at the time of the conquest, such as in the Zapotec term pee or the Maya ku or ch'u. Such immaterial energy can also be compared to the Polynesian concept of Mana. In Pipil mythology Teut (Nawat cognate of Teotl) is known as the creator and father of life.
The gods in the Aztec pantheon, themselves each referred to as a teotl (plural teteo), were active elements in the world that could manifest in natural phenomena, in abstract art, and as summoned or even embodied by priests during rituals – all these could be called teotl.
Molly Bassett identifies major characteristics of teotl as the term is used in the Florentine Codex to get further insight on Aztec religion as described in other codices.
Whereas in most Nahuatl translations of the Bible and Christian texts, "God" (Θεός) is translated with the Spanish word "Dios", in modern translations by the Catholic Church in the 21st century, the word "Teotzin", which is a combination of teotl and the reverential suffix -tzin, is used officially for "God".
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
Possible passages
Found by search and not yet checked by a person; they may only mention the idea in passing.
i:2: "The Spirit of the Lord moved over the face of the waters." (83) At other times it is used as equivalent to a high courage, thus the spirit of Gideon and of Samson is called the Spirit of the Lord, as being very bold, and prepared for any emergency. (84) Any unusual virtue or power is called the Spirit or Virtue of the Lord, Ex. xxxi:3: "I will fill him (Bezaleel) with the Spirit of the Lord," i.e., as the…
Benedictus de Spinoza, Theologico-Political Treatise — Part 1
States what Teotl is.
But, inasmuch as the impression was vanishing, the mythological idea in question was that of a 'god of the moment.' Then followed a second stage, in which a demoniacal power was associated with a particular place. Following upon these local gods came other gods, representing the guardian powers of a tribe, a vocation, or some other social group. At the third stage of development, the 'particular god' acquired a…
Wilhelm Max Wundt, Elements of Folk Psychology Outline of a Psychological History of the Development of Mankind
States what Teotl is.
For this reason He is also called, “The Lord of the whole earth” (Jos. iii. 11–13); ha-adon, “the Lord” (Exod. xx., iii. 17).
Moses Maimonides, The guide for the perplexed
States what Teotl is.
Related ideas
Place in the tradition
Part of Aztec philosophy.