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The rise of monotheism

Myrtonos

Member
arg-fallbackName="Myrtonos"/>
There was a time when practically everyone in the world was a polytheist (if animist faiths count). The rise of monotheism began in Egypt around 1350 B.C. What explains the rise of monotheism?
 
arg-fallbackName="Gnug215"/>
Logic.

Gods are idealism taken to the extreme. One single super-idealized figure is the logical conclusion of religious thinking.
 
arg-fallbackName="Sparhafoc"/>
William of Ockham was a monotheist.

Most recorded polytheistic religions have a concept of a god above the other gods.

It's the hierarchical thinking of human societies projected onto the sky. It is good to be King, and especially good if you can forge a connection in the minds of one's subjects between the singular king and the singular god.
 
arg-fallbackName="Myrtonos"/>
Gnug215 said:
Logic.

Gods are idealism taken to the extreme. One single super-idealized figure is the logical conclusion of religious thinking.
Yet there was a time when polytheism/animism was practically universal, and this was at a time of enormous cultural diversity compared to what we have today, and when the peoples of different corners of the world were quite separated.
 
arg-fallbackName="Sparhafoc"/>
Myrtonos said:
Gnug215 said:
Logic.

Gods are idealism taken to the extreme. One single super-idealized figure is the logical conclusion of religious thinking.

Yet there was a time when polytheism/animism was practically universal,...

That does not remotely conflict with what you're replying to.

Tribal chiefdoms were once practically universal too, but today most people live under nation states.

Myrtonos said:
... and this was at a time of enormous cultural diversity compared to what we have today,...

What does that mean?

Can you unpack, please?

Myrtonos said:
... and when the peoples of different corners of the world were quite separated.

The world is the same size. Do you mean they were more culturally isolated then?

Shall we talk specifics here? When exactly are you referring to? 10 kya? 50kya? 100kya?
 
arg-fallbackName="Gnug215"/>
Myrtonos said:
Gnug215 said:
Logic.

Gods are idealism taken to the extreme. One single super-idealized figure is the logical conclusion of religious thinking.
Yet there was a time when polytheism/animism was practically universal, and this was at a time of enormous cultural diversity compared to what we have today, and when the peoples of different corners of the world were quite separated.


"My God is bigger than your God/gods".

This is the inevitable evolution. There's also a simplicity to it that would probably make more sense to most.
 
arg-fallbackName="Desertphile"/>
Myrtonos said:
There was a time when practically everyone in the world was a polytheist (if animist faiths count). The rise of monotheism began in Egypt around 1350 B.C. What explains the rise of monotheism?

I am not aware of any monotheism currently existing. All religions as far as I know have more than one god.
 
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