Baalism refers to the religious beliefs and practices associated with the ancient Semitic deity Baal. Baal was a god of fertility, storms, and agriculture, and was worshipped extensively in the ancient Near East, particularly in the Levant, which includes modern-day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and parts of Jordan and Syria. The term "Baal" is often used to refer to a generic god of a city-state or a particular region, rather than a specific deity with a fixed identity. Baalism was characterized by its polytheistic nature, with various local manifestations of Baal coexisting alongside other gods and goddesses.

Baal worship was often associated with rituals that included animal and human sacrifices, as well as fertility rites. The religion was also known for its iconography, which included the use of pillars and sacred trees as symbols of the god's presence. Baalism was in competition with other monotheistic religions of the time, most notably Judaism, which rejected the worship of Baal and other idols.

The worship of Baal was eventually suppressed and largely forgotten after the rise of monotheism and the dominance of the Abrahamic religions in the region. However, its legacy can still be seen in various cultural and religious practices that have survived to this day.

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Baalism. the worship, in ancient Canaan or Phoenicia, of any of a variety of chief deities referred to as Baal, 'lord.' �� Baalite, n. �� Baalistic, adj.read more >>