Monotheism

Monotheism is the belief in only one god or that god is only one entity which is deemed to be unique in fundamental ways. Thus, the only differentiating feature of a monotheistic religion is the righteous belief that all other religions are wrong (and even evil).

Monotheism recognises two dimensions of reality this world and god's world, in comparison to monism which recognises only one reality. The monotheistic doctrine recognises god as a personal entity and thus separate from this world (in contrast to pantheism in which god is part of this world/existence). Monotheism often condemns all other religious/spiritual systems as being false and has used this righteousness as a rationale for war and murder.

The monotheistic god is seen as the creator of this world/existence and continues to influence it, thus history may be seen as the result of god's will.

Examples of monotheistic religions include three of the dominant religions today - Christianity, Islam and Judaism.

The important dimension in monotheism is not the oneness of the god but the uniqueness of the god.

Monotheism has difficulty rationalising the presence of evil, or at least the origin of evil, because it presupposes only one ultimate power. Interestingly, because Western culture has been strongly influenced by Christianity (a monotheistic doctrine) monotheism has almost become self evident resulting in a simplification of questions of religion to a simple choice between monotheism and atheism.

Degrees of monotheism

Given the forgoing description it may be surprising to hear of degrees of monotheism, but they are presented.

At one end of the spectrum is exclusive monotheism in which there simply are no other gods, or if other gods are recognised to exist they are merely false gods. This is the position of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. This exclusive god may be rationalised on ethical grounds (chosen because that god is good) or on intellectual grounds (logical conclusion) or both.

The spectrum of views (monotheisms and quasi monotheisms) is spread between the extreme positions: exclusive monotheism to unlimited polytheism.

There is the extreme position of unlimited polytheism as, for instance, in the classical religions of Greece and Rome: each god has his own name and his own shape, and these are unalienably theirs and cannot be exchanged with those of any other god (not counting, of course, those cases in which gods are practically each other's duplicate and only bear a different name). The number of divinities is large and in principle unlimited. There are differences of status and power among the gods, of function and sphere of influence, but they are all equally divine. There is, in fact, an ordered pantheon. In unlimited polytheism, the number of gods that are actually worshipped seldom exceeds a few hundred within one religion, but in theory, as in India, millions and millions of gods may be thought to exist.

Inclusive monotheism accepts the existence of a number of gods but holds that all gods are essentially one and the same, so that it makes little or no difference under which name or according to which rite a god or goddess is invoked.

Henotheism, kathenotheism or monolatry is worship of one god, although the existence of other gods is granted but not at the same time. It was prevalent in some periods in the history of Babylonia and Egypt.

Pluriform (multiplicity of forms) monotheism is an attempt to address the problem of the unity and the pluriformity of the divine. In pluriform monotheism various gods of the pantheon, without losing their independence, are at the same time considered to be manifestations of one and the same divine substance.

Spiritual Systems				Main Religions
Agnosticism	Atheism	Monotheism	Polytheism	Buddhism	Islam
Ancestor	Deism	Naturism	Theism	Christianity	Judaism
Atheism	Dualism	Pantheism	Totemism	Hinduism