Monotheism vs. Polytheism

793 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Effects of the scientific revolution on religion

Monotheism vs. Polytheism

Different religions exist because not everyone has the same spiritual needs or responds best to the same style of worship. Monotheism, the worship of one deity (www.jeremiahproject.com), appeals to one type of person, whereas polytheism, the worship of many deities (www.jeremiahproject.com), appeals to another, much like how different music styles appeal to different people.

The Revolutionary War was an enormous part of American history. The revolution in Russia, that sparked the overthrow of communism, was a huge part of Russian history. The revolution of Christianity, one of the monotheistic religions, from the concepts of Greek gods, one of the polytheistic religions, was also a large part of religious history.

There are only three modern religions that are monotheistic: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (Donceel 52). For comparison purposes, this paper will use the concepts and ideas brought forth by the Bible and Christianity. The book of Genisis begins by assuming that there is only one true God that created the Heavens and Earth and rules over it, and that assumption is maintained throughout the Old Testament as well as the New Testament. Christians believe that God gave His only son, Jesus.

"For God so loved the world, that gave is only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

John 3:16 (KJV)

When Jesus was put to death by humans, He told the people, He would die to forgive their sins. This shows that God and His son were both caring and forgiving beings. They are respected by the followers of Christianity. God helps humans. Humans pray to God for help and forgiveness. People also go to church, the place of worship, to le...

... middle of paper ...

...mple built at Delphi contained an oracle, or prophet, whom brave travelers questioned about the future. A group of priests represented each of the holy sites. These priests, who also might be community officials, interpreted the words of the gods but did not possess any special knowledge or power. In addition to prayers, the Greeks often offered sacrifices to the gods, usually of a domestic animal such as a goat (Hamilton chapters 1 and 2).

In conclusion, Christianity is monotheistic, with belief in only one true God. Greek Mythology is polytheistic with belief in several deities. Both are respectful religions that serve the need of their followers.

Bibliography:

Bibliography

Donceel, Joseph F. The Searching Mind. Notre Dame, 1980.

www.jeremiahproject.com/view_monotheismandpolytheism.html.

Hamilton, Edith. Mythology. 1942.

Show More
Related

  • Monotheistic Religions Dbq

    77 Words  | 1 Pages

    Between 600 BCE and 600 CE, religion played an important role in the social order of the Middle East. The introduction of monotheistic religions challenged earlier polytheistic religions and caused people to have faith in in one almighty god. Social order was affected by these new understandings because people began to believe that those who sided with God would be granted everlasting life while those who were on the side of evil were sentenced to eternal punishment.

    Read More

  • Comparing Greco-Roman And Judeo-Christian Laws

    343 Words  | 1 Pages

    Both Greco-Roman and Judeo-Christian believe in gods. Greco-Roman believe in multiple gods. And Judeo-Christian believe in one god. They both believe they are doing that right thing. They both have certain laws they go under certain

    Read More

  • Use Of Greco-Roman Polytheism To Medieval Monotheism

    850 Words  | 2 Pages

    The most different were that persons of the period were putting extreme emphasis on just one religion and, thus, many art forms became seemingly infiltrated with biblical scenes and interactions of higher figures in the church. However, in literature, it is evident that God had created everything we know, we can see this being addressed in “Genesis” of The Holy Bible (kingjamesbibleonline.org). “[a]nd God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.” However, with Greek and Roman religions, they had a pantheon in which had various supernatural deities to use and choose from. Although, the similarity that they share is that they both celebrate, pray, and give tribute to the god (s) in the form of ceremony or building of temples (churches in monotheistic

    Read More

  • On The Inccarnation By Athanasius's On The Incarnation

    922 Words  | 2 Pages

    “This He did out of sheer love for us” (Athanasius 8). This quote refers to the amount of love that God had for humanity, this love had been strong enough to shine through our own rejection towards Him. It continues to do this. When the human race repeatedly rejected God, He continued to have mercy on us. “It was our sorry case that caused the Word to come down” (Athanasius 4). Why would God continue to love us after all this? God could not abandon us, His creation. If we look at kings and rulers in the time of Jesus, we would most likely see corruption and death. When a king was upset he would often take a violent path. God, on the other hand, chose to send someone kind and loving to help us rather than to hurt us. This proves that God is and was genuinely concerned for us, and wanted to see us prosper. “ Now that the common savior of all has died on our behalf, we who believe in Christ no longer die” (Athanasius 21). God wants us to have faith in Him, He wants us to live forever with Him. Another king might bring death upon his people rather than on himself only for his well being not of his people’s. When Jesus died He gave us the option of life over death. All we must do is have faith and believe that He is the on...

    Read More

  • One Flew Over the Cuckoo´s Nest: A Sardonic Commentary on Christianity

    728 Words  | 2 Pages

    “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:17

    Read More

  • How the Greek Revered Their Gods

    3757 Words  | 8 Pages

    The Olympian religion lacked the presence of true sentimentality, and the gods were not seen as forgiving or "flawless" as the Christian God is often portrayed. The Greek gods were portrayed as humans, which meant that they were not perfect. That is, the gods made mistakes, felt pain (e.g. Aphrodite in love with the mortal Adonis), and succumbed to anger and their tempers (e.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of The Battle Of Saratoga

    620 Words  | 2 Pages

    “…one of the Greatest battles that Ever was fought in America…” Major Henry Dearborn. The American Revolution was considered one of the most significant wars in American history because it resulted in freedom and independence for the United States. The war was between America and Great Britain in which the Patriots were striving to gain independence from Britain. At the start of the war, the British had won significantly more battles than the Americans.

    Read More

  • The Doctrine of the Trinity

    539 Words  | 2 Pages

    Three equals one. Out of all of the statements made by the Christian faith, perhaps none is more confusing. The Doctrine of the Trinity has been questioned for decades and many Christians do not even understand it. Colin E. Gunton argues that this does not have to be so. Instead, he calls the Western Church to learn from Eastern Orthodoxy and allow Trinitarian thinking to permeate every aspect of the church. It is when the Western Church embarrasses “The Forgotten Trinity” (the name of the chapter) in thinking and in worship, that we not only learn the nature of God, but how we should live in light of it.

    Read More

  • World Religion: Christianity the Most Widespread Religion in The World

    1475 Words  | 3 Pages

    Christianity is the most widespread religion in the world with two billion followers. Many aspects of Christianity are based on Judaism (Tiemann 526). Christianity is based on the life, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christ’s message to everyone is personal salvation and also promises faith and love triumphs over sin and death. The origins of Christianity are based on the book that Christians read, the Holy Bible. Christians believe the Bible is God’s word. In the Bible, God talks about The Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments are agreements between God and his chosen people. Christianity is an example of monotheism. What makes up the God that Christians believe is God the Father, God the son and God the Holy Spirit. The three of these makes up the Trinity of Christianity (Brown 76). Some of the Christian practices are gathering at churches for worship, fellowship and engage in the world through evangelism. One of the beliefs that Christians have is Jesus will come back to earth and take those who believe in Him back to Heaven.

    Read More

  • Comparing Christianity, Judaism, and Islam

    741 Words  | 2 Pages

    There are many similarities and differences between Judaism, Christianity and Islam. There are also many differences that separate the three major religions of the world. This paper will delve into all three of them.

    Read More

  • Understanding the Islamic Concept of Barzakh

    1067 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...did not die’. Islam belief in human nature is also different from Christianity; but the same in Judaism, that human nature has the equal ability to do good or evil. Means of salvation in Islam is closely the same to the other Abrahamic beliefs. In addition, good and bad afterlife beliefs are closely related as well. Interestingly, Christianity views Islam as a false religion and Islam views Judaism and Christianity as ultimately having wrong beliefs and ‘only partial revelation’. Ultimately, these Abrahamic religions are the most influential religions in the world. Their impact on the world is very deep and all trace their history to Abraham in the Hebrew Bible. The brief overview of the similarities and differences of the three monotheistic faiths enables people to enrich or at least receive a concrete vision of what can possibly come with death and the afterlife.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Christianity And Islam

    1023 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Much common ground is shared in attempt to provide approaches to finding answers to some of the deepest questions of life. I will discuss these significant similarities focusing on human dignity, identity, difference, and guardianship. “Islam is similar to Christianity in respect to human dignity and identity in that both acknowledge creation and that God is the creator of heaven and earth”. The aspect of both subscribes to the role of prophets who were venerated in both Islam and Christianity. Due to this fact, they both are traced to the times of Abraham (Ipgrave and Marshall 14-77). The goal of each faiths’ ethos is to love God by way of obeying His commandments on guidance from their respective Holy Books. They both do broadly consist of individuals that owe their allegiance to a metaphysical deity. Owing to the fact that the two are considered Abrahamic religions. They do both captures in the strictest sense the aspect of guardianship in respect to both having belief in only one God. A belief is impliedly preaching the existence of heaven and hell. Goes on to affirm the existence of the belief of the second coming of the Savior, which affirms the faiths’ ethos towards the attainment of the religions’ goals. Aimed at promoting and achieving a holistic understanding of religion, as the flexibility to accommodate diverse backgrounds of its adherents that is always prone to abuse. Christianity and Islam’s

    Read More

  • Christian, Islam, And Judaism

    1388 Words  | 3 Pages

    Every religion has its own goal, and their own path and believe to reach their goals, however there are also many similarities in believes. Although the followers of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam may see things differently, they all fundamentally hold the same values and codes. To Islam, the Prophet Mohammad’s teaching is a complete and final revelation. On the other hand, according to the bible, Christianity believes that Jesus Christ is the true lord and savior will grant you the access to heaven in the afterlife. Judaism is founded by Abraham, and it is the base from which both of the other two religions sprung. Even though the three religions differ in many areas and on many aspects, they also agree on the monotheistic, the belief in ‘One True God.’ Those religions have many similarities and a number of significant differences about God, role of women, prayer, and salvation.

    Read More

  • Similarities of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity

    980 Words  | 2 Pages

    There are many religions today that people worship and adapt into their daily lives are their creed. Some may have a lot of gods, while some only have one god. But three of these religions are considered as the major religion practiced by most people in the world today. Although different in some senses in terms of history and other teachings, they all have things in common that most of their followers do not seem to realize. The similarities are very important to understand each religion better and be able to determine which parts they vary. In this paper, I like to discuss the similarities found in the three major monotheistic religions of Judaism, Islam and Christianity.

    Read More

  • The Similarities Between Islam and Christianity

    1013 Words  | 3 Pages

    Dirks, Jerald. The Abrahamic faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam : similarities & contrasts. Beltsville, Md.: Amana Publications, 2004.

    Read More

More about Monotheism vs. Polytheism

Open Document