Which predates the other?
Was Monotheism derived from Polytheism? or Polytheism was a deviation from Monotheism?
What were the factors behind emergence of new ideology ( Monotheism in presence of polytheism or otherwise) 
Were human societies not happy / satisfied with the one ideology to leave that and accept the other one?
Re: Polytheism Vs Monotheism
Logically and ideally, it is not possible for one to derive monotheism from polytheism as one must have to start from believe in one God means monotheism and that may turn into polytheism afterward.
The concept of polytheism comes from the worldly fear, i think. For example, someone could have started believing in animal as God after being frightened of its strange or frightful appearance. On the other hand the concept of monotheism, all-powerful God comes from wiser and logical thinking that who could have designed this universe with perfect pattern and developed intelligent life.
and Allah knows best.
Re: Polytheism Vs Monotheism
polytheism would be so cool! but seriously imagine if all the greek gods actually existed!! (well they did for some people at one point ; ) )
Re: Polytheism Vs Monotheism
philosophy .... Just look at the Tabloids ... We already have our divas, idols ands heroes pasted about popular media outlets for music, film and sport have ensured that the Greek pantheon of gods have not gone ...
They are as cool as they will ever be ... for simple minds ... That is why there are in the tabloids and not in the broadsheets as much ...
Re: Polytheism Vs Monotheism
I must agree with ajazali ... Logically it would be hard to derive monotheism from polytheism ...
However, according to the historical record a different picture is present ... Babylonia, Egypt, Hinduism are historically documented oldest and Greece seems to first be polytheistic then they adopted Christianity later ...
The problem is that if a monotheist pure religion existed prior to these idol based religions without a written text that could be preserved it would be impossible to know what they believed in ...
My personal take is that the records of beliefs that we have regarding the religions of people probably go back to a dark point in history and prior to that people believed more and more in only 1 God ... As is suggested by the pagans of Arabia ...who show signs of Abrahamic faith that had been corrupted.
Re: Polytheism Vs Monotheism
philosophy .... Just look at the Tabloids ... We already have our divas, idols ands heroes pasted about popular media outlets for music, film and sport have ensured that the Greek pantheon of gods have not gone ...
They are as cool as they will ever be ... for simple minds ... That is why there are in the tabloids and not in the broadsheets as much ...
u clearly dont know the diff between gods and humans.
Re: Polytheism Vs Monotheism
I must agree with ajazali ... Logically it would be hard to derive monotheism from polytheism ...
*However, according to the historical record a different picture is present ... Babylonia, Egypt, Hinduism are historically documented oldest and Greece seems to first be polytheistic then they adopted Christianity later ... * The problem is that if a monotheist pure religion existed prior to these idol based religions without a written text that could be preserved it would be impossible to know what they believed in ...
My personal take is that the records of beliefs that we have regarding the religions of people probably go back to a dark point in history and prior to that people believed more and more in only 1 God ... As is suggested by the pagans of Arabia ...who show signs of Abrahamic faith that had been corrupted.
yes, religion had its influence...
but i think muqa is asking about the factors behind emergence of new ideology... means monotheism or polytheism as idealogy without divine guidance... maybe i got it mistakenly
Re: Polytheism Vs Monotheism
polytheism would be so cool! but seriously imagine if all the greek gods actually existed!! (well they did for some people at one point ; ) )
i guess, you like to have several personal assistants that would help you in every matter of life accordingly...
Re: Polytheism Vs Monotheism
there are many real examples of monotheism developing out of polytheism.
if you look at the sister-religions of ancient zoroastrianism/avestanism and vedic hinduism, they are polytheistic faiths that worship various gods that personify the elements of nature such as the mirtas, adityas, marutas etc. and as these nomadic tribes settled, their religions evolved in accordance with their stable lifestyles. the elements weren't so much their primary fear/out of control idea. zoroastrianism diverged to the path of ahura mazda vs. evil. formal hinduism split into a several schools of thought, many of which are monotheistic with brahman gaining ground over indra and his pantheon.
and there is the very obvious instance of monotheism becoming polytheism in christianity. son of god, holy spirit, god, all the various saints worshipped throughout the christian world as being powerful for one particular area of concern.
these happen because unlike universal constants like pi or e or charge of an electron, there is nothing woven into the fabric of our universe that makes the number of divine entities a constant. its up to human minds and its needs at the circumstance.
Re: Polytheism Vs Monotheism
Got some interestin comments from some other place...
Any statement that polytheism "came first" must presume any form of monotheism to be false. If such a presupposition is not made, their entire timeline of pre-historic history falls apart.
Re: Polytheism Vs Monotheism
Got some interestin comments from some other place...
Any statement that polytheism "came first" must presume any form of monotheism to be false. If such a presupposition is not made, their entire timeline of pre-historic history falls apart.
explain with examples please
Re: Polytheism Vs Monotheism
explain with examples please
a polytheist believer, believing in several gods must assume that monotheism, believing in one God is false.
furthermore, imagine the start of a belief system without divine. how can one jump to start believing in several gods at once? obviously it could have started from believe in one god then continued believing in other gods.
Re: Polytheism Vs Monotheism
Interesting
Re: Polytheism Vs Monotheism
a polytheist believer, believing in several gods must assume that monotheism, believing in one God is false.
and vice versa.
[quote]
furthermore, imagine the start of a belief system without divine. how can one jump to start believing in several gods at once? obviously it could have started from believe in one god then continued believing in other gods.
[/QUOTE]
almost all polytheism starts with assigning divine powers to various things that man didn't understand and felt powerless in front of. the sun was divine. the moon was divine. the rain, thunder, lightning, fire.. all were powers he felt were gods. i don;t see why different gods could only arise out of one god that controls everything.
Re: Polytheism Vs Monotheism
and vice versa.
almost all polytheism starts with assigning divine powers to various things that man didn't understand and felt powerless in front of. the sun was divine. the moon was divine. the rain, thunder, lightning, fire.. all were powers he felt were gods. i don;t see why different gods could only arise out of one god that controls everything.
no vice versa queer!
How you get 2, by 1+1
Re: Polytheism Vs Monotheism
.....
almost all polytheism starts with assigning divine powers to various things that man didn't understand and felt powerless in front of. the sun was divine. the moon was divine. the rain, thunder, lightning, fire.. all were powers he felt were gods.
see, it again implies some sort of fear as cause to believe
[QUOTE]
i don;t see why different gods could only arise out of one god that controls everything.
[/QUOTE]
unless you prove that polytheism came first.
Re: Polytheism Vs Monotheism
it is fear that causes all kinds of religious beliefs anyway. and i just explained to you how polytheism doesnt need monotheism to precede it. but if you believe in the fable of adam and eve being the origin of mankind, obviously no proof will be proof for you.
Re: Polytheism Vs Monotheism
it is fear that causes all kinds of religious beliefs anyway. and i just explained to you how polytheism doesnt need monotheism to precede it. but if you believe in the fable of adam and eve being the origin of mankind, obviously no proof will be proof for you.
you know very well that fear is there even without religious belief. Practically, if you observe religious people you would find them less fearful, more content and calm. Dont give me example of fearlessness of taliban.
Re: Polytheism Vs Monotheism
Polytheism predates Monotheism according to existing historical evidence.
Re: Polytheism Vs Monotheism
a polytheist believer, believing in several gods must assume that monotheism, believing in one God is false. furthermore, imagine the start of a belief system without divine. how can one jump to start believing in several gods at once? obviously it could have started from believe in one god then continued believing in other gods.
The reverse is also true. How do you have proof that only monotheism is true and polytheism is not ? Do you have evidence other than religious books written and compiled centuries ago? Do you have independent confirmation eitherwise? How do you explain miracles present in various different religions catering to different Gods? The evidence leans more towards the existence of multiple Gods if God /Gods do exist in the first place. So maybe polytheism is the way to go.