What does autotheist mean?
An autotheist is a person who regards themselves as a god, or who treats their own self as an object of religious devotion. The word combines Greek autos ('self') with theos ('god'), and it is rare enough that it functions chiefly as a term of criticism: to call someone an autotheist is to accuse them of supreme arrogance or megalomania. It has been applied to tyrants and emperors who demanded divine honors, to cult leaders who presented themselves as deities, and figuratively to anyone whose self-regard crosses into self-worship. The noun's abstract counterpart, autotheism, denotes the belief or doctrine itself. Because of its resemblance to words like atheist and monotheist, readers should note the distinction carefully: where those terms describe beliefs about gods in general, autotheist concerns a belief about oneself. Though uncommon, the word offers writers a precise, striking label for the psychology of self-deification.
nounA person who regards or worships themselves as a god; one who believes in their own divinity.
- One who believes themselves to be a god or of divine nature.
"The emperor's courtiers flattered him as an autotheist, treating his every decree as divine law."
"Critics accused the dictator of being an autotheist, demanding worship alongside the state's official religion."
"In his later years the reclusive artist grew into something of an autotheist, signing his works with a haloed self-portrait monogram."
Standard plural; used when referring to multiple individuals holding such beliefs, e.g. members of a cult.
"The sect's founders were unapologetic autotheists, each claiming a spark of divinity."
The word 'autotheist' describes someone who skips religion entirely and worships the person in the mirror.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of autotheist
Autotheist derives from ancient Greek roots: autos, meaning 'self', and theos, meaning 'god', joined to the agentive suffix '-ist'. The combining element auto- appears across English in words such as autonomy, autograph, and autobiography, while theo-/theist underlies theology and monotheism. The word entered English scholarly and theological writing as a coinage built directly on these classical elements, describing the attitude of self-deification attributed to certain rulers and heretics.
Related word forms
How autotheist is actually used
Rare and literary; used almost always with critical or satirical connotation, implying extreme hubris rather than sincere theology.
Easily confused with autotheist
An atheist disbelieves in any god, whereas an autotheist believes in their own divinity — opposite positions despite the similar spelling.