In addi tion to the biblical material, iron age hebrew epigraphic evidence and various. According to the bible, ancient israels neighbors worshipped a wide variety of gods. The origins of biblical monotheism this page intentionally left blank the origins of biblical monotheism israels p. Oxford university press, 2001 as a result of comparing biblical and inscriptional evidence with the ugaritic texts, we can see how the worship of other deities lasted.
E, is one of the most intriguing rulers of ancient egypt. Click here to access audio files from all of the past conferences watch the documentary. Oxford university press, 2001 as a result of comparing biblical and inscriptional evidence with the ugaritic texts, we can see how the worship of other deities lasted for quite a long time in israels pantheon. A narrower definition of monotheism is the belief in the existence of only one god that created the world, is allpowerful and intervenes in the world a distinction may be made between exclusive monotheism, and both inclusive monotheism and pluriform panentheistic monotheism which, while recognising various distinct gods, postulate some underlying unity. In recent years, scholars have sought a better understanding of this early polytheistic milieu and its relation to yahweh, the god of israel. Monotheism is the belief in one true god who is the only creator, sustainer, and judge of all creation. Smith according to the bible, ancient israels neighbors worshipped a wide variety of gods. The philosophical ramifications of biblical monotheism on. Rejects the theory of any direct connection between moses and akhenatens religion. We may ask, however, how useful this definition is. The origins of biblical monotheism israels polytheistic background and the ugaritic texts mark s. But then again, those who believe in polytheism many gods or atheism no gods probably dont need their beliefs proven either.
In pdf format, it is compatible with any digital device than can read pdfs, including pcswindows oses, mac os, nook, kindle, and more. Biblical theories of the history of prophetism in old. Monotheism definition, the doctrine or belief that there is only one god. Read the origins of biblical monotheism israels polytheistic background and the ugaritic texts by mark s. Every new king was free to promulgate his own laws and was not. The idea of nicaea in the early church councils, ad 431451. Smith, 97801954803, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
Israels polytheistic background and the ugaritic texts smith, mark s. Presents original research on the controversial figure pharaoh akhenaten. Monotheism is one of two major styles of religious belief in the world. Smith, oxford university press, 2003, 0195167686, 9780195167689, 352 pages. Anthropologists and historians have studied this question, and presently there are three primary theories.
The only true god a continuing study of biblical monotheism. Christian monotheists also called biblical unitarians believe that jesus must be taken seriously when he says that his father is the only true god john 17. The origins of biblical monotheism ebook by mark s. Toward an assessment of divine plurality in the hebrew bible michael s. In this book, all the relevant verses have been discussed reasonably, rationally, and sincerely. However, until the advent of christianity and islam, the concept of religious. These other beings may include some who live in heaven and who are, in the normal course of events, immortal. The first few chapters of origins i think are particularly important for the penetrating questions they ask. Three of the most wellknown monotheistic religions are judaism, christianity, and islam. In recent years, scholars have sought a better understanding of this early.
Smiths work is very widely informed, but also depends upon careful, close reading of biblical and nonbiblical texts. Bible verses related to monotheism from the king james version kjv by relevance sort by book order. Click the search button below to search the entire website including all scripture translations, comments, commentary, bible dictionary, articles, and other pages. Pharaoh akhenaten, who reigned for seventeen years in the fourteenth century b. Apr 20, 2020 this name continued to be used for the supreme god of the hebrew religion in biblical times, although it had also come to be used as a generic term meaning a god as well. In discussions about the idea of god, there have been many efforts to establish some sort of natural theology, in which monotheism is seen as best reflecting the order and rational unity of the world. Monotheism encyclopedia of the bible bible gateway. Israels polytheistic background and the ugaritic texts. Find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate.
If your brother, your mothers son, or your son or daughter, or the wife you cherish, or your friend who is as your own soul, entice you secretly, saying, let us go and serve other gods whom neither you nor your fathers have known, of the gods of the peoples who are around you, near you or far from you, from one end of the earth to the other end, you shall not yield to him or. We accept this thesis as conforming to the required standard. Those who believe in one god do not need to have it proven to them. Drawing on ancient ugaritic texts and looking closely at ugaritic deities, mark smith examines the meaning of divinity in the ancient near east and considers how this. Israels polytheistic background and the ugaritic texts, mark s. You have made the heavens, the heaven of heavens with all their host. Argues that the origins of monotheism predates moses and hebrew.
Monotheism, then, is the belief that one supreme being exists whose will is sovereign over all other beings. Does divine plurality in the hebrew bible demonstrate an evolution from polytheism to monotheism in israelite religion. Sponsored by ken westby and acd, these annual conferences are an exciting time to meet up with other christianmonotheists, bounce ideas off eachother, and do some investigative theology. One of the best ways to see if ones views hold up to scrutiny is to engage with someone from the opposite perspective in public discourse. How god is one presents an exciting, provocative and readily understandable discussion of the origins and evolution of monotheism within judaism and christianity. Brilliant, welldocumented, wellorganized, and very discomforting. The apex of the theologization of history is reached with biblical, especially. Islamic monotheism and the trinity jon hoover christians and muslims both believe that there is only one god, and, as i hope to show in this article, their doctrines of god share some important structural similarities. On this basis, biblical monotheism is seen by modern biblical scholars as emerging gradually and in a continuous line from the. A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of master of arts in the faculty of graduate studies master of arts in biblical studies. Israels polytheistic background and the ugaritic texts kindle edition by smith, mark s download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Israels polytheistic background and the ugaritic texts kindle locations 35243525.
No direct matches for your keyword exist in the king james bible. The word monotheism comes from two greek words monos meaning one and theos meaning god the belief in only one god. Biblical theories of the history of prophetism we can take our point of departure for the history of prophetism in time of moses. This name continued to be used for the supreme god of the hebrew religion in biblical times, although it had also come to be used as a generic term meaning a god as well. With the application of the principle of evolution to the study of history, particularly religious history, the effort has been made to classify all religions on a scale moving from the simple to the sophisticated, and to equate this spectrum with the historical. Four distinguished scholars from different fields of studydonald redford, william dever.
Biblical scholars now recognize that in the preexilic era asherah worship, infant sacrifice, solar veneration, and other religious practices attacked by biblical authors represented normal israelite worship, while monotheism was a late development in the babylonian exile and subsequent years. Why does every culture in the world worship some divine being. After all, the socalled monotheistic religions of judaism, christianity, and islam exhibit belief in angelsbeings who reside in. Alleged traces of primitive monotheism were located in the deities assyrian ashur and marduk, and hebrew yhwh. This expansion of a proper name for use as a general term of reference in biblical hebrew after about bc can be seen as a step in the direction toward monotheism. His odd appearance and his preoccupation with worshiping the sun disc aten have stimulated academic discussion and controversy for more than a century. Pdf bible is considered by many westerners as a paradigm of monotheistic religion. But to understand monotheism, lets look at it in relation to the other positions people take about god. If we adopt the common definition of monotheism as the belief that no deities exist other than the one god, then the hebrew bible is not a monotheistic work. We will continue to update discussion and further studies with regards to this topic at this website.
Not only were there prophets at that time among israel, but they represented, with the exception of moses, whose case was unique, the prevailing form of revelation. The extant baal cycle never recounts baals return to life. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the origins of biblical monotheism. However, muslims and christians also find themselves differing.
History combines with interviews from christian, jewish, and muslim scholars along with a number. Monotheism is often understood as one god with a denial of the existence of other deities. Stemming from a popular symposium sponsored by the biblical archaeology society and the smithsonian institution, aspects of monotheism. This is different from polytheism, which is belief in multiple gods. The question of monotheism which has been discussed primarily in biblical terms, has been central also in religious philosophy. Smith, the origins of biblical monotheism new york.
Does divine plurality in the hebrew bible demonstrate an. Israels polytheistic background and the ugaritic texts mark s. Theology, prehistoric and primitive religions publisher by the hogarth press. We examine this point in some detail and argue that monotheism, as. Free online bible library monotheism biblical training. Ronald hendel offers an alternative history for the mosaic discourse within the biblical text, catherine malabou reconnects. The song of the sea asks the rhetorical question exod 15.
Within the biblical text, what we tend to find is much more, something that we might call monolatry, that is, the belief that there may be more deities, but that only one is to be worshipped. It stands in opposition to polytheism, which acknowledges many gods. Download and read free online the origins of biblical monotheism. If you have read smiths early history of god and been intrigued by his conception of the development of our notion of god during the biblical period, the origins of monotheism delivers a significantly more detailed analysis of the ancient bronze age texts from ugarit and their influence on the culture of ancient palestine in general, and biblical texts in particular. Origin of god giving life host of heaven creator heaven, worshiping god the witness of creation no other is god creation of the physical heavens angels rejoicing you alone are the lord. Israels polytheistic background and the ugaritic texts oxfordnew york. Tracing the origins of jewish monotheism and greek philosophy simo parpola, university of helsinki i. We have learned a lot by debating others and we pray that we would continue to grow. Introduction a stylized tree with obvious religious significance already occurs as an art motif in fourthmillennium mesopotamia, and, by the second millennium b. Argues that akhenaten was the first monotheist in history. The philosophical ramifications of biblical monotheism on religious pluralism by bryon morrigan introduction throughout the history of humanity, religion has always been a factor.
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