What is the benefit of monotheism?

Answer 1

A:A monotheistic religion is one in which there is only one god. There is nothing inherently superior in monotheism, compared to polytheism, the worship of more than one god. However, after the Babylonian Exile, the Jews began to differentiate their religion from those of their neighbours, on the grounds of being monotheistic. Followers of Judaism, and later the followers of Christianity and Islam, accepted without question that monotheism was in some way superior. In any case their God was the only god, an easier claim to communicate.

Christianity faced a minor problem in this scenario. Jesus could not be a God if Christianity was monotheistic, but if Christianity chose not to claim monotheism, then a key point of differentiation was lost. By the third century, the concept of the Holy Trinity was being put forward. This resolved the issue, as there was no longer any question that there was only one God, who was three persons in one.

A further problem was identified later, especially in the western Church, in the veneration of saints, which some condemned as tantamount to polytheism. This required the Church to place limits on veneration of saints and to formally define veneration of saints as unlike the worship of gods. Prayers to saints were henceforth supposed to be prayers for intercession, not for the saint to provide independent help for the supplicant. Protestants now condemn prayers to saints and say that only God or Jesus should receive prayers.

Answer 2

There is no evidence that monotheism is superior to polytheism. In fact, polytheistic religions appear to be somewhat more tolerant that monotheistic religions. If you are choosing a religion, it is better to choose one that you feel meets your spiritual needs than to decide on the basis of monotheism or polytheism.