One of the most common arguments in religion deals with the existence of God or a Sentient Being that created the entire universe and established the concept of morals and means of life. Some religions like Hinduism and certain sects of Buddhism, they argue that there are many gods that control a specific sector of life. In history, polytheism pertains to the worship of idols and pagans, said to control a natural occurrence or luck. Other religions, like Islam, Judaism and Christianity, believe that there is only one god that created the world in His splendour, and dictated how man should live his life in preparation for the time of the return of the Saviour or the date of Judgement. At present, monotheism is widely practiced by several religions, including the three religions of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. However, many are unaware as to the history of monotheism and how it has spread out in the entire globe. This paper will discuss the definition, history, development, and the mechanism of Monotheism.
In a general aspect, Monotheism is referred to the belief that religions that follow and worship only one god. Under monotheism, it follows the mottos Heis Theos or One God and No other god as noted in the First Commandment. Monotheism also constitutes to the unity of the divine, a self-description of each religion practicing this belief. Monotheism also asserts its identity by opposing the beliefs of polytheism. Ironically, polytheism does not oppose and assert its identity to monotheism as the practice of polytheism has been a belief practiced before the onset of monotheism. Monotheism is also considered self-descriptive in nature. Before the term monotheism has been coined to refer to the belief in one god, the idea has already been seen in history despite the notions of polytheism practices. In one example, the Mesopotamian gods were branches or different identities of the chief god Marduk, who was called in fifty different names by the Mesopotamians. Egypt also asserts this same style as noted in the Egyptian scripture known as the Papyrus Leiden. In the Papyrus script, all Egyptian gods are three and yet they represent the aspects of one god. Under this line, the three gods Amun, Re, and Ptah complete the entity of the complete god. Amun is God’s identity with Re as his face and Ptah as his body (Assmann 2007: 17, 26).
The term monotheism has first been used in publication in 1680 and was coined together by Henry More, an Englishman who intended to use the term to refer to a polemical tool rather than a religious reference. The original published term was used as an epithet to refer to Christianity, and a term that is directed against the Unitarian notions over God’s World Identity. More’s presentation of the Christian gospel, the Grand Mystery of Godliness, is where More first used the term ‘monotheism’. In his work, he explains that religions before the time of Christ, and outside the Christian world (Middle East/Arab Nations) is divided into five categories. The first category consists of the polytheists, where he stressed that the practice of polytheists contradicts his definition of God as the Supreme Being. The second category is people who only regard the sun as the only divine being. The third category is the pantheists, where More argues
“To make the World God, is to make no God at all: and therefore, this kind of Monotheisme of the Heathen is as rank Atheism, as their Polytheisme was proved to be before”
The next category after the pantheists is the worshipers of an eternal and spiritual being. These are the people who worship one God under various names and images. The last category is the Jews, who are more inclined to worship animal life. Jewish religion, according to More, was not concentrated on idolatry. Jewish religion had also various images of Christ which was discussed by Moses to the Israelis. However, many Israelis have remained oblivious to the true meaning of the religion given to them by God (Stuckenbruck and Loren 2004: 205-206). Many did not understand the definition of monotheism upon More’s publication; moreover align the term and coin the definition of “belief in one God” to monotheism. Since that period, monotheism reappeared again in the 19th century, now using the term to refer to the Jews’ belief over their adherence to Monotheism despite all persecutions. According to historians, the late coinage of both terms “polytheism” and “monotheism” lies in the initial use of these terms and its application to the ideas of ancient cultures which served as Christianity’s foundations. Like the terms “religion” and “theology”, the term “monotheism” was not a helpful word to use in defining divinity and its foundations or teachings.
The idea of using the term to refer to One God doctrines only began recently. Scholars Mark Smith and Michael Mach noted that the terms enable critical analysis over the descriptions it wishes to convey, now allowing readers to understand the concerns the terms wishes to explain. For Mark Smith, he used the term monotheism in explaining the Israelite worship defined in the Ugaritic texts. He suggested that the “concept of monotheism reflects our modern situation as much as the circumstances of ancient Israel or the Bible, for monotheism is largely a modern concern”. For Mach who studied Hellenistic influences on Jewish’s monotheism practices, he emphasized that the term “monotheism” is malleable to discuss the socio-historical conditions of the period being studied in terms of their religious stances. The term has served until present two principal efforts in understanding modern theology and biblical scholarship. The first principle deals with the classification and cataloguing to western social science; while the second is the term’s effectiveness to become a medium to explain European cultural and religious superiority. In addition in becoming a means to raise up Europe’s advancement in culture and religion, it was also attached to the Jewish-Christian development in European history. Today, the term monotheism is used to define a religion which ardently supports the belief of the existence of one supreme deity (Schneider 2007; 20-21).
Although the term has only been coined in the early 16th century, the concept of monotheism has spread out to the followers of several monotheistic religions, allowing it to gain popularity with various locations. As of today, these religions have a community of followers reaching to ten million and above, enabling monotheism to spread throughout the communities. For the Western world, monotheist belief has been spread out through the Hebrew Bible or from Judaism. Under the Hebrew Bible, it begins by discussing the revelations to Abraham by “God the Most High” and His presence through Moses when Moses brought the Israelites out of Egypt. The biblical scriptures present the uniform concept that God is the Creator, the Most High, and the One who can control history. Judaism also discusses their understanding that other gods are just servants of the One True God, or non-existent entities that humans create in relation to power and certain effects. The Hebrew Bible also discusses how God influences Israelites to worship just one God, the God who brought them out of slavery from the Egyptians. The Bible also discusses God or Yahweh’s power in comparison with other gods such as Marduk of the Babylonian god. In the second book of Isaiah, he expresses that it is Yahweh who defeated the great deep or the primeval chaos, enabling him to create the universe and every living being, including humans.
It was through Judaism which provided the Christians the foundation of monotheism, enabling Christianity to inherit the concept from the Jews. Not many believe that Jews and Christians shared the same ideals over one God; however, they do vary in understanding the entity of God. In the beginning, Christians had varying beliefs over God which is similar to the beliefs of Jews, however they believe in Jesus Christ. Early Christians also believed in the presence of the Holy Spirit, and it was always mentioned in comparison of talking about God. It was in Jesus Christ wherein many Early Christians expressed their worship and belief into. They also showed their devotion to Christ in a variety of ways, which can be compared as to how Christians worship God at present. The early Christian church also believed that Jesus Christ was the Chosen Messiah. This concept has been proven in several Gospels, such as the Gospel of John wherein Jesus Christ is regarded by his followers for standing close with the Father, being in His likeness. The Gospel of John also states in the divine Logos, God became flesh in the being of Jesus Christ. With this belief in Jesus Christ, it was possible for the early Christian Church to create a figure that represents Wisdom.
Early Christians had problems in incorporating philosophies and religions that would be influential in believer’s faith over God’s revelations in Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ’s entity. Christianity also had problems separating itself with Judaism as it did not cease in retaining its religious community background. In their own way, Christians had constantly argued with Jews upon their legitimacy in the claim that they are heirs to Abraham and Moses’ God, and its teachings. In the span of a few years, Judaism had dwindled slightly due to the major crises it has experienced in the first and second centuries. Judaism only recovered somewhere in the third century, however Christianity was already creating its foundation as a large religious group. Jews also called Christianity a barbaric tradition, causing some tension to ensue between the Jews and the Christians. Despite these arguments, Christians have retained their belief over monotheism, the Creation story, and the decree to worship only one God. Although Jews have argued that the Christian belief and worship of Christ is inconceivable and a violation to the commandment of God to not worship another god, the Christians have insisted that the God Jesus Christ knew and spoke to was the real God of Israel. This belief alone cemented their doctrine that Christ is the Son of God.
However the lack of belief in God was changed in the First Council of Nicaea, wherein the issue on Christology is discussed by bishops. The Council of Nicaea also created the uniform Christian doctrine wherein various Christian teachings were identified and serve as the foundation of the current Christian doctrine. The council also resolved the nature of Christ’s image and His relationship with the God the Father. The council discussed if God the Father and Christ are one at the same person, or They are only similar in some aspects. The Orthodox Christians supported the concept that God the Father and Christ are similar in essence. They also consider that God is the Trinity, comprising three different Persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three represent the unity that creates the same substance. The Orthodox teachings also assert that an infinite God is without bounds and limitations. There are some Christians who do not believe in this concept of a Trinitarian God, especially the sects of the Mormons, Jehovah’s witnesses, and the Church of God as they believe God is a single spirit, capable of taking shape in various forms for every given situation (Lohse 1966: 30-43).
For Islam, the concept of monotheism or the tawheed is the most important aspect in the religion. Islam, like other religions, points out the idea of monotheism from the Ten Commandments stating that there is only one God to be worshiped. In Islam, all of the teachings concentrate in understanding the oneness of Allah. Islam also calls for its followers to worship the One and Only True God Allah. If one does not understand and value the concept of monotheism, no act of worship would count as a means of devotion to Allah. Since the concept of monotheism or the act of singularity is important in practicing Islam, it is necessary that followers understand its perspectives. Under the Islamic teaching on singularity, three perspectives are discussed as a means to understand God’s uniqueness
The Devotion of All Worship to The One God Alone
The Uniqueness and Oneness of God in His Names and Attributes (Seda 2002: 8)
As of today, the notion of monotheism has constantly gather followers in various parts of the globe in their chosen religions. Out of the religions that currently practices the belief in monotheism, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam and Christianity gathered the most number of followers believing that God is only one, and He is the Creator of All. Although they vary in terms of their teachings, names and background, the God that they worship can be considered the only true God. God’s teachings in these various religions are also similar. What is important in the belief in monotheism and in one God is the fact that God would be the One who would watch over His people, and listen to their pleas. He is also the one who would deliver His judgement come the time of His Chosen Day.
Works Cited
Assmann, John. "Monotheism and Polytheism." Johnson, Sarah. Ancient Religions. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2007. 17-31. Print.
Lohse, Bernhard. A Short History of Christian Doctrine. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1966. Print.
Schneider, Laurel. Beyond Monotheism: A Theology of Multiplicity. New York: Routledge, 2007. Print.
Seda, Pete. Islam is An Introduction to Islam and its Principles. Rabwah: Islamic Propagation Office, 2002. Print.
Stuckenbruck and Loren. Early Jewish and Christian Monotheism. New York: Continuum International Publishing Group, 2004. Print.
