Monotheistic Religions Essay
Today there are many different religions around the world all characteristic in their own ways. In the Ancient World however, there were fewer monotheistic religions than there are today. Three monotheistic religions in the Ancient World were Judaism, Zoroastrianism and Atenism. While all may have one thing in common which is belief in one God they all have different characteristics and they all had a different God they believed in. Judaism is the religion of the Hebrew people. It is one of the oldest religions that is still practiced today. Judaism upholds the idea that there is only one God in existence and that is Yahweh. Judaism according to Hebrew Scriptures was founded by Abraham some 3500 years ago in the Middle East. Judaism believes that Yahweh entered into a covenant with the descendants of Abraham who are also known as the chosen people of God. The Hebrews had a group of
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writings which consisted of five books also known as the Torah. The Torah consists of the five books of Moses. Along with the Hebrew Scriptures there are oral traditions as well which came to be known as the Talmud which also includes the Mishnah which is the oral law of the Hebrews.
Before Judaism existed civilizations had beliefs in many gods who behaved no better than a human himself. When Judaism was found it changed the perspective of religion for the Hebrews. The Hebrews believed in one God and there were no others. The Hebrews also believe that Yahweh is everywhere at all times and he existed in the past and will always exist in the future. They believed that Yahweh is forgiving but he also rewards good and punishes bad. The Hebrews believed and lived in faith which means they didn’t know Yahweh personally but they believed he existed and didn’t need proof otherwise.
Zoroastrianism is the ancient pre-Islamic religion of Iran.
Zoroastrianism was created by the Prophet Zoroaster around 1500-122 BCE. This religion started in Ancient Persia when Zoroaster was motivated to preach to others when his peaceful society was being torn apart by tribes at war. Zoroastrianism was a monotheistic religion but it is said they there is “dualism” in this religion. The dualism comes from the recognition of forces of good and forces of evil. The Zoroastrians believe in one god Ahura Mazda. Just like the Hebrews they Zoroastrians believe that their God is all powerful and is everywhere all the time. They also believed, like the Hebrews, that Ahura Mazda is not possible to conceive but that it just has to be believed that he is there. The one difference between the Zoroastrians and the Hebrews was that the Zoroastrians believed in spiritual beings called Amesha Spentas which were good spirits and Angra Mainyu which was a destructive spirit. The Hebrews only believed in Yahweh not anyone or anything else such as spirits that are attributes of
God.
Atenism was found over 4000 years ago in Ancient Egypt making it to be believed as the first monotheistic religions. It was created by the Pharaoh Akhenaten who is the Son of Aten. In this religion the God who is worshiped is Aten. He represents “One God of the Universe.” Similar to Judaism and Zoroastrianism, Atenism believes that Aten is all powerful and he is always present everywhere all the time. In Atenism however, they believed Aten could be seen but in Judaism and Zoroastrianism they just believed God was there they didn’t have to see him to believe. The main difference between Judaism and Atenism is that Judaism is based on the behavior of humans and their consequences. Hebrews had a very strict moral code they had to follow accordingly. With Atenism, Aten, expected nothing of humanity.
Many scholars believe that since Atenism was discovered first that the Hebrews followed a little similarly in its path. However, it seems that Judaism is different from Atenism more than it is different from Zoroastrianism. The Hebrews had to follow their specific moral code or they would be punished in the eyes of Yahweh. The Atenists however didn’t follow it that closely and they also believed that Aten could be seen while the Hebrews just had to have faith that Yahweh was with them. Each religion was very similar to each other with a few differences here and there. However their main similarity was that they were all monotheistic and believed in one God.
writings which consisted of five books also known as the Torah. The Torah consists of the five books of Moses. Along with the Hebrew Scriptures there are oral traditions as well which came to be known as the Talmud which also includes the Mishnah which is the oral law of the Hebrews.
Before Judaism existed civilizations had beliefs in many gods who behaved no better than a human himself. When Judaism was found it changed the perspective of religion for the Hebrews. The Hebrews believed in one God and there were no others. The Hebrews also believe that Yahweh is everywhere at all times and he existed in the past and will always exist in the future. They believed that Yahweh is forgiving but he also rewards good and punishes bad. The Hebrews believed and lived in faith which means they didn’t know Yahweh personally but they believed he existed and didn’t need proof otherwise.
Zoroastrianism is the ancient pre-Islamic religion of Iran.
Zoroastrianism was created by the Prophet Zoroaster around 1500-122 BCE. This religion started in Ancient Persia when Zoroaster was motivated to preach to others when his peaceful society was being torn apart by tribes at war. Zoroastrianism was a monotheistic religion but it is said they there is “dualism” in this religion. The dualism comes from the recognition of forces of good and forces of evil. The Zoroastrians believe in one god Ahura Mazda. Just like the Hebrews they Zoroastrians believe that their God is all powerful and is everywhere all the time. They also believed, like the Hebrews, that Ahura Mazda is not possible to conceive but that it just has to be believed that he is there. The one difference between the Zoroastrians and the Hebrews was that the Zoroastrians believed in spiritual beings called Amesha Spentas which were good spirits and Angra Mainyu which was a destructive spirit. The Hebrews only believed in Yahweh not anyone or anything else such as spirits that are attributes of
God.
Atenism was found over 4000 years ago in Ancient Egypt making it to be believed as the first monotheistic religions. It was created by the Pharaoh Akhenaten who is the Son of Aten. In this religion the God who is worshiped is Aten. He represents “One God of the Universe.” Similar to Judaism and Zoroastrianism, Atenism believes that Aten is all powerful and he is always present everywhere all the time. In Atenism however, they believed Aten could be seen but in Judaism and Zoroastrianism they just believed God was there they didn’t have to see him to believe. The main difference between Judaism and Atenism is that Judaism is based on the behavior of humans and their consequences. Hebrews had a very strict moral code they had to follow accordingly. With Atenism, Aten, expected nothing of humanity.
Many scholars believe that since Atenism was discovered first that the Hebrews followed a little similarly in its path. However, it seems that Judaism is different from Atenism more than it is different from Zoroastrianism. The Hebrews had to follow their specific moral code or they would be punished in the eyes of Yahweh. The Atenists however didn’t follow it that closely and they also believed that Aten could be seen while the Hebrews just had to have faith that Yahweh was with them. Each religion was very similar to each other with a few differences here and there. However their main similarity was that they were all monotheistic and believed in one God.