Why did monotheism come after polytheism?

Question

What the hell happened? Didn't Adam tell anyone about God making Ever from his rib?

Answer 1

Because you don't have to be too smart to remember the name of one god. lol

Answer 2

The first religions were animistic. They believed that spirits lived in everything and animated the world. Without a concept of science they believed that gods ruled the universe.

Zoroaster was the first man to say that there was only one good god and one evil god, however, Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu respectively. From his religion sprung monotheism and the idea that there was one God and the evil spirit sprung from him.

These people, led by Abraham, were called the Jews. They were the first to believe in Adam and Eve. Many Native American, African tribes, and traditional Shinto believe in a Great Spirit and many lesser gods (spirits, kami, or ancestors). However, today many of these people who still practice these ancient religions just worship the one god (not the Jewish God) and are thus monotheistic, but do not believe in Adam and Eve.

Furthermore, Baha'is believe in evolution and science. They worship one God, the God of Abraham, Jesus, Mohammed, and Baha'u'llah, yet see the Adam and Eve story as an example of how man gained wisdom, not how they were created.

If you read Genesis you will see there are two creation stories (this is pointed out and labeled in the Catholic Bible, but downplayed in Protestant Bibles). The first creation story tells the creation of the whole world, including men and women, with no mention of Adam and Eve [ Gen. Ch 1 - Ch. 2:4 ]. The second story [Gen. Ch. 2:5 - 2:25] is very different from the first story, and cannot be seen as an addition to the first. These two distinct stories were written at different times and have a different chain of events. For example, in the first, animals were created before men, and in the second, animals were created after Adam. This shows that even the Hebrew/Christian Bible, as many scholars point out, allows science and religion to coincide without difficulty once a name is removed from the "first man."

As man evolves and learns more about the world and his environment so religion grows and changes. More complex ideas begin to develop over time. It is important not to limit this discussion to only monotheism and polytheism. Soon after monotheism was introduced atheism arose. From many, to one, to none, men began to challenge the beliefs of their fathers. However, new ideas such as pantheism (God is in everything) and monism (existence consists of one kind of substance or one energy which flows through and connects everything) challenge the classical deffinition of God and show how man has progressed in logical and spiritual thought over time. This discussion could go on and on, but my suggestion would be to take a World Religions college class if you truely want to understand the development of religion.

Answer 3

Uh, what does Eve coming from Adam have anything to do with Monotheism & Polytheism?

Answer 4

Polytheism was fundamentally a tribal phenomenon. As populations grew and began to move closer together, it became easier to unify the populace by means of monotheism.

Answer 5

Because of the Imperialization of third world countries that sent in missionaries to change the beleifs of to Christianity or Islam. If that hadn't happened there would be much more polytheistic beliefs than monotheistic.

Answer 6

because it took a while for one group to become powerful enough to monopolize the souls and wallets of earth.

Answer 7

well it's easier to keep track of one magic sky-pixie than a dozen....