What influenced Hebrew monotheism?

Some historians have argued that Jewish monotheism was influenced by Zoroastrianism—a faith the Jews would have encountered during the Babylonian Exile and in their broader interactions with other Near Eastern peoples. Zoroastrianism was not entirely monotheistic, but it did teach that there was a single Supreme Being.

Which country influenced the concept of monotheism?

Ancient Judaism continues to receive the most attention as creating the origins of monotheism in the Western tradition. More recently some scholars are applying the term ‘monolatry,’ a system that recognizes the existence of other gods, but chooses to worship only one.

Did Egypt have a monotheistic religion?

Egyptian religion was polytheistic. The word netjer (“god”) described a much wider range of beings than the deities of monotheistic religions, including what might be termed demons. As is almost necessary in polytheism, gods were neither all-powerful nor all-knowing.

Why did Judaism become monotheistic?

During the Babylonian captivity of the 6th and 5th centuries BCE (Iron Age II), certain circles within the exiled Judahites in Babylon refined pre-existing ideas about their Yahweh-centric monolatrism, election, divine law, and Covenant into a strict monotheistic theology which came to dominate the former Kingdom of …

What made Judaism a monotheistic religion?

Judaism, monotheistic religion developed among the ancient Hebrews. Judaism is characterized by a belief in one transcendent God who revealed himself to Abraham, Moses, and the Hebrew prophets and by a religious life in accordance with Scriptures and rabbinic traditions.

How did monotheism first develop?

The first evidence of monotheism emerges from Egypt in the 14th century BCE (1353-1336 BC) during the reign of Akhenaten. The king was known to have worshiped Aten, the sun disk god (Figure 1). The worship of Aten constituted the first monotheistic religion in the world.

When did Egypt become monotheistic?

Under King Akhenaten’s rule, Egypt moved to worship a single sun god, Aten, thus forming Atenism. Akhenaten’s institution of monotheism throughout 14th century BCE Africa, though brief and quickly overturned, bears striking similarities to the three Abrahamic religions of today.

Did the ancient Egyptians believe in monotheism?

Monotheism in Ancient Egypt The ancient Egyptian dynasties ruled the Nile Valley for thousands of years, worshipping a diverse pantheon of gods during most of that time. However, during one brief period Egypt adopted monotheism. The pharaoh Akhenaten worshiped only the sun god, Aten.

Was Akhenaten the first monotheistic Pharaoh?

This can be illustrated by the case of the pharaoh Akhenaten (1352–1336 B.C.E.), who in modern times is sometimes called the first monotheist. Akhenaten’s new program involved the worship of one god (the sun-disc, Aten ).

Which Egyptian God did Akhenaten worship only?

By Evan Centanni. Pharaoh Akhenaten worshiped only the sun god Aten. The ancient Egyptian dynasties ruled the Nile Valley for thousands of years, worshipping a diverse pantheon of gods during most of that time.

When was the first monotheistic religion created?

Intentionally erased from history until the 19th century, Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten established the first known monotheistic religion called Atenism, which was rediscovered in the late 18th century and integrated by 19th and 20th century religious philosophers into the histories of the three Abrahamic religions.