The word “monotheism” comes from two words, “mono”
meaning “single” and “theism” meaning “belief in God.”
Specifically, monotheism is the belief in one true God who is
the only creator, sustainer, and judge of all creation.
meaning “single” and “theism” meaning “belief in God.”
Specifically, monotheism is the belief in one true God who is
the only creator, sustainer, and judge of all creation.
There are many arguments for monotheism, including those
from special revelation (Scripture), natural revelation
(philosophy), as well as historical anthropology.
Historical arguments for Monotheism
from special revelation (Scripture), natural revelation
(philosophy), as well as historical anthropology.
Historical arguments for Monotheism
Arguments based on popularity are notoriously suspect, but it is
interesting just how much monotheism has affected world
religions.
interesting just how much monotheism has affected world
religions.
What we find is a monotheistic God who is personal, masculine,
lives in the sky, has great knowledge and power, created the
world, is the author of a morality to which we are accountable,
and whom we have disobeyed and are thus estranged from, but
who has also provided a way of reconciliation.
lives in the sky, has great knowledge and power, created the
world, is the author of a morality to which we are accountable,
and whom we have disobeyed and are thus estranged from, but
who has also provided a way of reconciliation.
Virtually every religion carries a variation of this God at some
point in its past before devolving into the chaos of polytheism.
Thus, it seems that most religions have begun in monotheism
and “devolved” into polytheism, animism, and magic—not vice
versa. Even with this movement, polytheism is often
functionally monotheistic or henotheistic. It is a rare polytheistic
religion which does not hold one of its gods as sovereign over
the rest, with the lesser gods only functioning as intermediaries.
Philosophical/Theological arguments for Monotheism
point in its past before devolving into the chaos of polytheism.
Thus, it seems that most religions have begun in monotheism
and “devolved” into polytheism, animism, and magic—not vice
versa. Even with this movement, polytheism is often
functionally monotheistic or henotheistic. It is a rare polytheistic
religion which does not hold one of its gods as sovereign over
the rest, with the lesser gods only functioning as intermediaries.
Philosophical/Theological arguments for Monotheism
There are many philosophical arguments for the impossibility of
there being more than one God in existence.
there being more than one God in existence.
- If there were more than one God, the universe would be in
disorder because of multiple creators and authorities, but it is
not in disorder; therefore, there is only one God.
- Since God is a completely perfect being, there cannot be a
second God, for they would have to differ in some way, and to
differ from complete perfection is to be less than perfect and
not be God.
- Since God is infinite in His existence, He cannot have parts
(for parts cannot be added to reach infinity). If God’s existence
is not just a part of Him (which it is for all things which can
have existence or not), then He must have infinite existence.
Therefore, there cannot be two infinite beings, for one would
have to differ from the other.
Someone may wish to argue that many of these would not rule
out a sub-class of “gods,” and that is fine. Although we know
this to be untrue biblically, there is nothing wrong with it in
theory.
In other words, God could have created a sub-class of “gods,”
but it just happens to be the case that He did not. If He had,
these “gods” would only be limited, created things—probably a
lot like angels (Psalm 82). This does not hurt the case for
monotheism, which does not say that there cannot be any other
spirit beings—only that there cannot be more than one God.
Now, why does the existence of a monotheistic God disprove
polytheism? It disproves polytheism because God is infinite, and
there cannot be more than one infinite Being. To distinguish
one being from another, they must differ in some way. If they
differ in some way, then one lacks something that the other one
has. If one being lacks something that the other one has, then
the lacking being is not infinite because an infinite being, by
definition, lacks nothing. So, there can be only one infinite
Being.
Pantheism, autotheism and deism can be refuted easily. We
know that since God created time, space and matter, God has to
be spaceless, timeless and immaterial i.e. outside His creation.
This contradicts the pantheistic and autotheistic worldview.
Now, the Cosmological argument shows that God is a personal
being, since He made a CHOICE to create the universe.
Nothingness would have persisted unless Someone made a
choice to create. Only a personal being can make choices.
Moreover, the Moral Law argument shows that God is the
highest standard of morality. Why would God instil mortality
into the hearts of men if He didn't wish to engage with them or
have a personal relation with them? Love & justice are a few
essential qualities that describe God's character and bestowing
these qualities among men, does show His personal affliction to
His creation. This throws Deism out of the window.
These evidences proves that Monotheism is true and since the
opposite of true is false, all other theistic and non-theistic
worldviews are false.
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