answersLogoWhite

0

Dictionaries define "Judaism" as The monotheistic religion of the Jews, since the founding principle of Judaism was and is the belief in One God. This was the teaching which was spread by Abraham, and has continued since then. From Judaism, belief in One God has spread through the Western world.See also:

What do Jews believe God is like?

A biography of Abraham


Jews have always worshiped the One God. Abraham worshiped "the Lord God of Heaven and Earth" (Genesis 14:22 and 24:3) and complained about the Philistines' lack of fear of God (Genesis 20:11).

Jacob confiscated the idolatrous images taken from Shechem (Genesis 35:2) and got rid of them (Genesis 35:4); and refrained from invoking the gods of Nahor (Genesis 31:53). Rachel pilfered Laban's statue-images (Genesis 31:19) in order to prevent him from idolatry (Rashi commentary, ibid.). Joseph placed his hope in the God of the Forefathers (Genesis 50:24).

At the time of the Exodus, God wrecked the Egyptian idols (Exodus 12:12) and warned against idolatry (Exodus 22:19). Later, Moses characterized the Golden Calf as "a great sin" (Exodus 32:21, 30) and punished the worshipers (Exodus ch.32). During the rest of his lifetime and that of Joshua (Judges 2:7), no incidents of Israelite idolatry were reported.


Shortly before he died, Moses warned the people that he suspected that they would eventually succumb to the lure of the idols (Deuteronomy 29:17). Joshua gave a similar warning (Joshua ch. 24).
These warnings came true. Many of the Israelites went astray after the foreign gods (Judges 2:11). However, they never invented their own idol. It was always the baneful influence of other peoples. And there were times when the entire Israelite nation repented (Judges 2:1-4) and prayed to God (Judges 3:9, 3:15, 6:6, 10:10). Those who did sin did not represent normative Judaism. They were deviating from the Torah's standard; they were publicly, repeatedly, and scathingly excoriated by the Prophets, and they caused God's retribution to come upon the entire people.


Because of the idol-worship that did happen, ancient images of idols have been found in Israel too. Images of God aren't found because it is forbidden to represent Him through imagery (Deuteronomy 4:15-16).

It should be noted that idolatry was never universalamong the Israelites. The tradition of the One God was handed down in every generation, whether by the few or the many; and it is those who handed down that tradition whose beliefs we Jews continue today.

Deborah ascribed victory to God (Judges 4:14), Gideon tore down the idolatrous altar (Judges 6:25-27); Samson prayed to God (Judges 16:28), as did Hannah (1 Samuel 1:11) and Samuel (ibid. 12:18); Eli blessed in the name of God (1 Samuel 2:20), Saul built an altar to God (1 Samuel 14:35); Jonathan ascribed victory to God (1 Samuel 14:12), as did David (1 Samuel 17:46); and Solomon built the Temple for God (1 Kings 8:20). A number of the kings "did what was right in God's eyes": David (1 Kings 15:5), Solomon (see 1 Kings 3:3), Asa (1 Kings 15:11), Yehoshaphat (1 Kings 22:43), Yehu (2 Kings 10:30), Yehoash (2 Kings 12:3), Amatziah (2 Kings 14:3), Azariah (2 Kings 15:3), Yotam (2 Kings 15:34), Hizkiah (2 Kings 18:3), and Josiah (2 Kings 22:2). Part of this righteousness was their destroying whatever idolatrous incursions had occurred among the populace (1 Samuel 7:3-4, 2 Chronicles 15:8, 2 Chronicles 17:6, 2 Kings 18:4).

Even at the height of the unfortunate spread of idolatry among the less-loyal Ten Tribes, there were thousands who remained loyal to God (1 Kings 19:18).
And, of course, the Prophets, who spoke in the name of God and warned against idolatry: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea and so on.
The sages of the Talmud, who ridiculed idolatry (Megillah 25b), were simply continuing in the tradition of the Prophets whose verses are quoted in that context (ibid.).

See also:

Jewish history timeline

Are Hebrews, Israelites and Jews the same people?

User Avatar

Phyllis Larkin

Lvl 10
3y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

How to change my belief of Christianity to Christian Monotheism?

Christianity is monotheistic by definition. If you are a Crhistian, then you also follow Christian monotheism.


Would you put christianity in the category of polytheism or monotheism?

Christianity is considered monotheism, because they only believe one God.


What are the faiths for monotheism?

Judaism,christianity and Islamic


What describes monotheism's historical impact?

The concept of monotheism was a revolutionary idea that influenced Judaism and Christianity.


What important Jewish belief was passed on to other religions?

Ethical Monotheism. This became adopted by Christianity and Islam.


What was the name of the empire that influenced monotheism?

There was really no ancient empire that practiced monotheism. The only two peoples of the western world that practiced it were the Jews and, briefly, the Egyptians. Monotheism in the form of Christianity flourished in the latter part of the Roman empire, but the empire did not influence Christianity, rather it was the other way around, with Christianity (monotheism) influencing the Roman empire.


What is the type of theism for Christianity?

Monotheism - there is only one God.


What is one belief that is the same in Judaism Christianity and Islam?

Monotheism.


What is a form of monotheism?

There are numerous forms of monotheism: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are just the most famous three of innumerable monotheistic religions.


Where does monotheism apply?

The word Monotheism applies in contexts that refer to the worship of One God. According to tradition, Western Monotheism was founded by Abraham.


Who believes in monothism?

Monotheism is the believing in one god! so yes so regions do believe in monotheism such as Christianity,Judaism ,also Islam


Where is Monotheism?

Type your answer here... "IN THE BEGINNING"