Which came first, polytheism or monotheism?

Answer 1

It's generally accepted that Man worshipped nature and the elements before creating abstract deities who controlled them so the most likely answer is Polytheism. Some cultures may have made the leap directly from some form of Mysticism directly to Monotheism but Monotheism is a relatively sophisticated form of religious observance so it's somewhat unlikely.

Answer 2

...most would say polytheism, most Christians...monotheism. Read G.K. Chesterton's Everlasting Man (chapter 1, The Man in the Cave, and chapter 2, Professors and Prehistoric Men). It's written from the standpoint that monotheism is just as likely to have originated first, but does a very good job of summing up the arguments of both camps. Regardless of which side your allegiance lies on, this is the best and most LOGICAL arguement for monotheism that I've found anywhere.

Answer 3

This question really has two opposite answers.

On one side of the coin, polytheism outdates monotheism (as many previous answerers make note of) and so to the question: which came first, polytheism or monotheism? One should answer "polytheism."

However, on a more detailed and nuance, version of the question monotheism must--logically--come first. In short, if you believe in multiple gods, you had to "create, identify, or recognize" one to get to two, three, four, etc. Think of a list of 5 people you know. By thinking this, you HAD to think of one first to get up to five. If I asked you to write them, you would have to put the five in some order (alphabetically, by age, by when you met them, etc.). Thus, we do not think in groups as totalities but in the combining of individuals. As such, polytheists had to come up with "a god" to come up with more than one god. In the very inception of polytheism, we must (even if momentarily) have a brief monotheism. So, technically, the question: which came first, polytheism or monotheism? Should be answered "monotheism."

Answer 4

I believe polytheism came first and that monotheism is a later development.

Answer 5

The evolution of theism must have stared with a recognition of one God.

Then as more things needed to be explained (planets, volcanoes,etc,), more Gods were added to the list.

Eventually, as the unexplained phenomenon in the world were explainable, polytheism gave way to monotheism.

Answer 6

The first deity mankind conceived was female. Whether they called her a Sun Goddess, The great mother, Earth Mother or something else entirely. The Goddess was the equal giver and taker of life, the changer from infancy to strength to old age. She was the Wheel of birth, death and rebirth, the Wheel of the turning seasons, of the interconnectedness of the earth, the universe and humanity.
From here, a simple monotheistic belief, polytheism came into being.

Answer 7

This question leads to a Christian creatism debate. Assuming christianity is correct then it would be monotheism. If you are not a firm believer in a monotheistic religion then history would point towards it likely being polytheism.

Answer 8

Nature itself demonstrates that monotheism was from the beginning of time from which polytheism arose in idolatry. Think about this from the view of the sciences and mathematics. Cosmological scientists speak of a singularity and Big Bang (singular and not plurality). Math tells us that many arises from one (1,2 ,3,4,5,6). One cannot create multiples without the singular. It is irrational to reason otherwise. Singular always precedes plurality. There is no evidence of polytheism arising prior to monotheism, none. However, all sorts of evidence of ancient history attests to monotheism Gods arose because one God existed (Rodney Stark, "One True God," "Discovering God," "A Theory of Religion.").

Answer 9

i'm pretty sure polytheism. i'm pretty sure that animism is considered to be one of the first religions/belief system in something greater. People worshipped their ancestors and animal totems LONG LONG before christianity and islam came around.

Answer 10

polytheism