When/Why did the Abrahamic faith switch from Henotheism to Monotheism?

Question

and is it the worst thing that ever happened to religion?

The old testament was filled with other gods, the early Hebrews never denied there to be other gods, just that their god was better. When did it become, believe in my god and only my god or die?

henotheism • \HEN-uh-thee-iz-um\ • noun
the worship of one god without denying the existence of other gods

James-There was no demonizing of other faiths until montheism came along.

Answer 1

Most scholars cite "Second Isaiah" (the unnamed prophet whose words are recorded in the book of Isaiah, ch's 40-55, writing during the Babylonian Exile ca. 550 BCE), as the main force in the move towards true monotheism. In a foreign land under the rule of foreign kings and foreign gods, the prophet's words became a formative source of inspiration for the Jewish community. See especially Isaiah 44:9-20, where the prophet cites a woodcarver who cuts down a tree and uses half of it to make a fire to bake his bread and keep himself warm, and with the leftovers he carves himself an idol:
"Not one of them looks into his heart, not one of them has the knowledge and wit to think, 'I burned half of it on the fire and cooked food over the embers. Am I right to make something disgusting out of what is left? Am I right to bow down before a block of wood?' " (v.19)

Second Isaiah, along with a few examples from other exilic prophets, makes a point of equating the idols with the foreign gods themselves - an obvious strawman. But it was a way for the Jewish community to preserve their identity, by saying that these other gods had no power, that their God was not limited to the territory of Canaan, that their God was the God of the whole universe, indeed that their God was the ONLY God. The exilic community formulated their monotheistic ideas in Babylon and Persia, and much to the apparent shock and horror of those left behind, when they returned they brought their new faith with them.

Peace to you. (Hey thanks, that was a fun question - what a geek I am!)

Answer 2

I've brought up this point many times (especially to my fundamentalist christian mother). Her response has always been that the hebrews learned the error of their ways and that no other gods exist. But then, she does have a habit of denying anything that doesn't fit with her view of how things should be (in life and religion). Thank the gods my daddy was also there raising me....otherwise I think I'd have either turned out a fundie christian like my mom, or bitterly angry with all religions in general.

Answer 3

i read an article that said paul is the biggest champion of monotheism

the early christians would ask what about eating food sacrificed to the roman and greek gods

and he said go ahead your god is the only one thats real all other gods dont exist

and then i guess mohammed took it to the extreme

now i always wondered if there are no other gods and god knows its the only god why get angry over someone believing in something god knows isnt real

Answer 4

After or during the babylonian Exile in the 6th cent BC

No, monotheism is not the problem but demonizing others who practice other religions is the problem

Answer 5

Good question. I have no idea when they switched over, but I suspect it was in an offshoot of Catholicism.

I personally think the worst thing that every happened to the Christian religion is the Evangelicals.

Answer 6

Abrahams father and brothers did worship multiple dieties, you are correct. However, Abraham was given revelation that this was not correct, and this often got him in deep trouble with his family.

The only one who followed on in his belief was Lot, his nephew--Abraham separated himself from the rest of family and went to Egypt for a while, where he was faced with the same problem with the Egyptians.

Answer 7

I don't have too much to offer over the other answers - but I wanted to congratulate this thread on not only a really intelligent questions, but also for a stream of intelligent answers!

Kudos!