Is monotheism evil?

Question

The ancient world waged wars for economic supremacy and ego trips. yet when all was said and done the pagans were just fine in allowing you to have your sun god while he had his water god.

With the inception of full scale monotheism, because it did fail under pharoah amonhotep, wars clashed throughout the better part of the last two centuries. Christians v pagans, muslims v pagans, Jews v pagans, mulisms v jews v christains. Is it the belief itself or the people behind it that make monotheism so violent. Perhaps a monotheistic theocracy's idea of one god gives way to eliteism. The romans thought they were better because they were. What makes the muslims who live like hell better then the rest of us. Most super pious christians live in poverty, what makes them better.
Because religon is cultural does this not say a lot about the people who worship in these traditions.

Answer 1

This is a stellar analysis you've undertaken. I'd like to see you expand it to a full-scale essay.

I've long held that the tenets of Abrahamic faiths lead to conflict even among people of the same group! From the focus on one deity created in the image of the patriarch who is subject to constant reinterpretation and whim, to the additional features such as exclusivity, a mandate to convert or kill all others, a requirement to populate the earth with babies of the 'true faith' and a ridiculous dictum that all non-believers are inferior scum that will burn in a hell or be left out of the invented eternity because they don't complete ritual cleansing and/or superstitious rituals.

All three faiths--Judaism, Christianity, and Islam follow a similar history of genocidal behavior in the name of their deity followed by repression, scientific, artistic and social regressive behavior and deliberately primitive moral and character mores. Each one splinters into subgroups, factions, tribal cohorts that fight and create bad blood within the religion itself. You will find Christians more willing to hate/kill other sects of Christians than outsiders, and the same with Islamists and Jews.

Almost all of the ills of our modern world can be traced to these belief systems, and even most of the delays in progress can be attributed to matters of faith.

Even the two worst leaders of the 20th century--Josef Stalin and Adolf HItler, were reared as Christians and acted out of a Judeo-Christian framework of exterminating perceived enemies and attempting to conform their people to some concept of 'chosen' status. Their concept of themselves as the patriarch or god figure is consistent with the monotheistic mantra of 'image' which helped them gain the allegience of their entire nations, with few dissenters, even though their actions were reprehensible.

Answer 2

Along with polytheism, monothiesm is one of the best known theistic systems. Monotheism is founded upon the idea that there is only one God, typically regarded as the creator of all reality. This god is believed to be totally self-sufficient and without any dependency upon any other being.

Other alleged gods might be claimed to be merely aspects of the supreme god - this argument is more commonly found when the transition to monotheism is recent and the older gods need to be explained away. More often, other alleged gods are simply denied any reality at all, or perhaps claimed to be demons tempting people away from the True Faith. This exclusivity has resulted in less religious tolerance and freedom in traditionally monotheistic cultures.

The origin of monotheism is unclear. The first recorded monotheistic system arose in Egypt during the rule of Akhenaten, but it did not long survive his death. Some suggest that Moses, if he existed, brought monotheism to the ancient Hebrews, but it is possible that he was still henotheistic or monolatrous.

The form of monotheism which is traditionally most common in the West and which is too often confused with theism in general is the belief in a personal god which emphasizes that this god is a conscious mind that is immanent in nature, humanity and the values which it has created. This god is both transcendent (independent of and distinct from the created universe) and also immanent (presently active in the created universe). Because this form of monotheism dominates so strongly in the West, it is not uncommon to find people who simply give it the label "theism," acting as though it were the only type of theism which merited the label.

Answer 3

"Is it the belief itself or the people behind it that make monotheism so violent."

Personally, I think it's the flawed human interpretation of the "book religions" that's the fundamental problem here. Once words are inscribed into a book, then the book is called "the word of god," this leaves zero room for new ideas let alone growth and development. People end up becoming chained to antiquated thought patterns and belief systems leaving "zero" room for compassion and understanding of others.

It's the book that's the problem. Let alone the human interpretation of the book.

Answer 4

I've been wanting to read "The Curse of Cain: The Violent Legacy of Monotheism" which sounds like a great book. Yes, I agree, monotheism tends to screw up the world a great deal more than polytheism ever could.

Answer 5

How can a system with saints, the trinity and all the rest truly be termed "monotheistic"? It's merely an assertion for some sort of superiority in religious-speak, but the religions themselves are still based upon fear, ingnorance and loathing of one's neighbor.

The "love thy neighbor as theyself" is a commandment that never really caught on with christians.

Answer 6

I don't think monotheism is necessarily evil - what is evil is how people have used their own ideas about their god to justify killing everyone else. However, even without the idea of their god, they would have found another excuse -just like the Romans did.

Answer 7

Yes,Its like dictatoship Vs Democracy

Christians,jews and muslims live in dictatorship

where as Hindus live in demcracy of religions ( you have your choice )
So shun all dictatorial rule and vote for democracy.