When did the first monotheistic religions appear?

Answer 1

The first DESIGNATED monotheism is Atenism, started in Ancient Egypt by Amenhotep IV. Judaism is the oldest practiced today.

Actually, monotheism probably goes back to preliterate times, but we just can't be sure since nothing was written down.

Answer 2

First archeologically dated episodes were in 1350 BC in Egypt (or roughly 3400 years ago).

If you accept the account of Abraham, that time can be pushed back to around 2000-1900 BC.

Of course if you accept Genesis as being somewhat accurate it would go back to around roughly 4000 B.C.

• Answer 2

Archaeology has shown that no ancient society ever existed that did not believe in the supernatural, though some quickly reverted to idolatry.
Based upon a massive worldwide study of the most ancient inscriptions and the earliest levels of civilization, Dr. Wilhelm Schmidt (in his twelve-volume Der Ursprung Der Gottesidee) concluded that the original belief was monotheistic; a belief in One God. It was a simple belief in the Creator (Dyeus Pater; Sky-Father) with no imagery of any kind. It gave way relatively quickly to polytheism and idolatry, but its traces could still be seen by the careful researcher.

Answer 3

The entire ancient world possessed the original traditions of the Creation, the existence of the human soul and the afterlife, the special status of the number seven, the dignity of the dead, etc.

• Link: Can you show me that God exists?
  

Based upon a massive worldwide study of the most ancient inscriptions and the earliest levels of civilization, Dr. Wilhelm Schmidt (in his twelve-volume Der Ursprung Der Gottesidee) concluded that the original belief was monotheistic; a belief in One God (see footnote 1, below). It was a simple belief in the Creator (Dyeus Pater; Sky-Father) with no imagery of any kind. It gave way relatively quickly to polytheism and idolatry, but its traces could still be seen by the careful researcher, just as (for example) Proto-Indo European has left indelible marks within the later languages. Other traditions also are traceable worldwide, such as the religious significance of the number seven, and the immortality of the soul.

The process by which the awareness of One God gave way to a belief in many gods, has been described by Scandinavian researchers (see footnote 2) as splitting ("Gottespaltung"): the people gradually viewed God's attributes of truth, righteousness, fertility etc., as separate from Him, and afterwards personified and worshiped the attributes themselves, until God was largely forgotten.

According to Jewish tradition also, (Rashi commentary, Genesis 4:26), monotheism is more ancient than polytheism. Maimonides describes the process by which polytheism began: "A couple of centuries after the Creation, mankind made a great mistake. They said that since God had created the stars and spheres and placed them on high, accordingly it is fitting for people to praise and glorify them and to treat them with honor. They perceived this to be the will of God, that people should exalt and honor the stars. They began to praise and glorify them with words, and prostrate themselves before them, because by doing so, they would (according to their false conception) be indirectly honoring God too."

• Link: The full quote from Maimonides

The original belief is what Abraham reinstated through his teaching of ethical monotheism.

See also the other Related Link.

• Link: Abraham's monotheism
  

Footnotes

1) Albright, "From the Stone Age," p.170; and J.A. Wilson, "The Culture of ancient Egypt," p.129. Also Baron, "A Social and Religious History," vol. I, p.44 and 311. Also James Meek, "Hebrew Origins," p.188, quoting Langdon, Lagrange and John Ross. Also Martin Nilsson, Handbuch der Altertumswissenschaften, 2nd ed., p.61, 141, 220 and 394.

2) G. W. Anderson, in "The Old Testament and Modern Study," p.287. Also Friedrich Baethgen, in Beitraege zur Semitischen Religionsgeschichte, p.288. Also Pallotino, "The Etruscans," p. 158 and 167.

Answer 4

The first monotheistic religions, such as Zoroastrianism and ancient Judaism, emerged around the 6th century BCE. These belief systems worship one all-powerful deity rather than multiple gods.