What do the basic ideals of monotheistic religions and the ideals of democracy have in common?

Answer 1

i have no idea...thats what im trying to find about!

Answer 2

A:Monotheistic religions are generally authoritarian, prescribing rules and beliefs from which their members can not dissent. In most cases, leaders are chosen by an inner circle and imposed on members, who no doubt willingly accept their religious leadership in most cases. Democracy, on the other hand provides its members the opportunity to seek change to the rules at the ballot box. Members of a democracy choose their leaders and can change them by majority decision.

Ideals that monotheistic religions share with polytheistic religions and even Atheism do find common ground in democracy. Most religions would, for example, seek to alleviate the suffering of the less fortunate in society, which is also an objective of most democracies. The ideals of charity and unselfishness are almost universal and are therefore held, at least formally by all religions including those that are monotheistic, and underpin the concept of democracy.

Answer 3

Democracy is a form of government that allows all to take part in deciding who should lead the nation for the time being, having equal regard for the views of each individual, regardless of political allegiance. One of the ideals of democracy is that all points of view are respected. Even those whose votes are in a minority should be heard and their legitimate interests should not be overridden by the majority.

Monotheistic religions share some important ideals with the great polytheistic religions of the world, and to that extent contribute to the ideals of democracy. However, some who follow one of the great monotheistic religions believe that those whose allegiance is to other religions are not rational and and should be shown the errors of their ways. Some even say that only the monotheistic religions have legitimate interests because all other religions are false and thus inferior.

As distinct from polytheistic religions and animism, there is not a great deal in common between the ideals unique to monotheism and the ideals of democracy. The ideal of all people worshipping one God, owing allegiance to one religion, has more in common with the ideal of a benign Dictatorship than to democracy.

Answer 4

Judaism is egalitarian and values all individuals, both men and women. The wealthy have no privileges; and the poor are valued, treated well and their opinions listened to. (Compare this to those societies in which only mature, land-owning males had any legal status.)
Judaism applies laws, and rules of moral behavior, to all its members equally.The laws of Moses form much of Western legal background.
Some of the concepts that Judaism introduced were:

• The rights of every individual, including the elderly, the unwell, the poor etc. Infants are to be protected and cared for, whether or not they turned out to be the gender you were hoping for. Compare this to societies in which unhealthy babies, or females, were killed.
• Women's rights also were carefully maintained in Judaism. Israelite women could own property, could initiate court cases, could have their own servants, and could own fields and businesses; and the Torah specifies marital rights for women (Exodus 21:10).
• The concept that all people are created in God's image.
• The requirement of all societies to have just legal systems.
• Limitations on punishments for crimes. For example, a robber repays double to his victim, or works it off. Cutting off the hands of a robber is a punishable crime. Debtors are not imprisoned or harmed. They are made to sell property and/or work to repay what they owe. Compare this to the Roman practice by which anyone could accuse a man of owing them money and the debtor could be killed.
• Workers' rights, including the obligation to pay them on time.
• A weekly day of rest for everyone.
• Illiteracy among Israelites, in every generation, was rare. Universal education in the Western world is taken for granted today, yet this is a recent development. In Judaism, however, it goes back 3300 years. Judaism has always maintained that education is the highest goal of man in his pursuit of godliness. This tradition has now been passed on to Western culture.
• Western jurisprudence is based in part upon the Torah. A quick look at the Ten Commandments (Exodus ch.20) and the laws that follow (Exodus ch.21-23) gives a good summary of most modern law.
• It is the responsibility of the community to support the widow, the orphan, the poor, and the stranger passing through.

See also:
How did Jewish ideas spread?