MONOTHEISM: HISTORY AND MAIN MONOTHEISTIC RELIGIONS - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The monotheism is the belief in the existence of a single deity, one God. The etymology of the word monotheism comes from the Greek words monos (alone) and theos (God). Monotheistic religions or theological doctrines are those that recognize the existence of only one God. Judaism, Islam, and Christianity are monotheistic religions.

Monotheism also considers that the one God contains human characteristics of a divine nature. Although its transcendence exists outside the known world, people can have a personal relationship with this divine figure, even communicate with him through different rituals.

The Vatican, center of Catholicism. By Xosema, from Wikimedia Commons

Origin and history

The concept of monotheism was born in the seventeenth century. At first it is not contrasted with polytheism but with atheism. Therefore, people who believed in God were considered monotheists. However, today it is used to oppose the belief of a single God to the belief of multiple gods.

Primitive monotheism

Primitive monotheism or premonotheism is a theory formulated by the Russian VS Soloviev and the British A. Lang. They tried to show that some remote peoples conceived the worship of a single celestial being.

However, this theory did not have academic or popular support. The idea of ​​the belief of a single celestial deity was soon shown to be a relatively contemporary phenomenon.

Most theologians agree that the monotheistic idea corresponds to a complex social structure that makes the conception of a single God impossible in native peoples.

Major monotheistic religions

The most popular religions of the West are monotheistic. The main ones are the so-called religions of Abraham: Christianity, Islam and Judaism.

In the East there are also monotheistic religions, such as Zoroastrianism (of the prophet Zarathustra, whose deity is Ahura Mazda) and Sikhism (founded by Guru Nanak, with Waheguru as the only God).

Judaism

Judaism is considered the first monotheistic religion, with Yahveh as the main deity. In addition to religion, Judaism is considered a tradition and the specific culture of a people.

From the Jewish religion historically come the other two great Abrahamic religions: Christianity and Islam. However, it is the religion with the fewest followers today.

Abraham is considered as the founder of the Jewish religion and Moses as its prophet. It was Moses who received the oral tradition of religion alongside the Torah.

The Torah

The Torah is the text that contains the Jewish foundation. It is one of the three books that make up the Old Testament. It is made up of five books and is also known as the Pentateuch. The word Torah comes from the Hebrew "to undertake" and is related to the words law, teaching and instruction.

It contains the revelations and divine teachings that were given to the people of Israel through Moses. It is considered to also contain the oral teachings transmitted to Moses.

The books that make it up are: Genesis (beginning), Exodus (names), Leviticus (He called), Numbers (in the desert), Deuteronomy (words, things, laws).

Jewish god

The highest Jewish deity is Yahweh. It is the name he uses in the Old Testament to refer to himself. It is an omniscient, omnipotent and provident God.

Yahveh is in charge of the creation of the world and the designation of the Jewish people to discover in The Ten Commandments. Together with the third and fourth books of the Torah, these will be the guides of the Jewish people.

characteristics

Among the characteristics that differentiate Judaism from the rest of the religions, the conception of Judaism as a religion conceived for a specific people stands out. Judaism is also characterized by being a set of traditions and specific cultural characteristics, in addition to a religion.

Currently, the country with the largest number of followers of Judaism is the United States (6.5 million), followed by Israel (5.9 million). The holy places of Judaism are Jerusalem, Safed and Tiberias, in Israel; and Hebron, in Palestine.

The temple of Judaism is called a synagogue. The highest clerical figures are the rabbi and the chazan.

Christianity

Christianity is another of the monotheistic Abrahamic religions. He bases his beliefs on the teachings of the sacred writings of the Tanach and the Greek Bible. He considers the life of Jesus of Nazareth as the basis of his teachings.

Jesus

The highest Christian deity is God and his highest prophet is Jesus. According to Christian beliefs, God sent his son Jesus as messiah to die crucified and redeem human sins. Jesus rises after 3 days and his prophetic teachings are found in the Old and New Testaments.

The Holy Trinity

Regarding the concept of monotheism, Christianity comprises an internal controversy between three deities of its fundamental deities. The Holy Trinity encompasses the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

This is often categorized as polytheism. However, in the Old Testament there is the declaration of Jesus Christ that says that “(…) the Lord our God is one”.

Islam

Islam is another of the most popular Abrahamic monotheistic religions in the world. This is established from the fundamental premise of this religion, which indicates that "There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the last messenger of Allah."

For Islam the main deity is Allah, Muhammad being its highest prophet. Islam proclaims among its maxims monotheism, obedience and the abandonment of idolatry. Muslims (followers of Islam) have the Koran as their holy book.

Koran

The Koran is the holy book where God Allah reveals his word to Muhammad through the Archangel Gabriel. There the revelations of the prophet Muhammad are gathered, divided into 114 chapters and subdivided into different verses.

Prophets

Besides Muhammad, Islam considers other main prophets: Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Solomon, and Jesus (Isa in Islam). The Torah, the Books of Solomon and the Gospels are also considered sacred.

References

1. Al Ashqar, OS (2003). Belief in Allah. Riyadh.
2. ASIMOV, I. ​​(sf). Guide to the Bible: New Testament and Guide to the Bible: Old Testament. Plaza & Janés Editores, SA
3. BAROUKH, E. and. (nineteen ninety five). Practical Encyclopedia of Judaism. Robinbook editions.
4. BERGUA, JB (1977). History of Religions: Christianity. Iberian Editions.
5. DE LANGE, NR (1996). Judaism. Riopiedras Editions.
6. Esposito, J. (2004). The Oxford Dictionary of Islam.