Monoteisme

Monotheism is the belief in the existence of a single, all-powerful and transcendent god who is the sole object of worship. It stands in contrast to polytheism, the worship of many gods, and to religious positions such as henotheism or monolatrism, which may acknowledge other gods but prioritize one. In monotheistic traditions, the deity is typically understood as creator, sustainer, and source of moral order and revelation.

The term is applied to several religious traditions, most prominently the three major Abrahamic faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In Judaism, monotheism is central to the conviction of a single, indivisible God revealed to the people of Israel. Christianity maintains belief in one God but interprets God as the Trinity in most denominations. Islam teaches tawhid, the oneness of God, who is unique and indivisible; the Quran is presented as final revelation.

Other religious systems have monotheistic elements or are described as monotheistic by scholars. Zoroastrianism emphasizes a supreme creator, Ahura Mazda, with other divine beings as assistants. Sikhism proclaims one timeless, formless God. Some Hindu traditions worship a single supreme deity while recognizing other forms.

Historically, monotheism emerged in the ancient Near East and underwent varying forms of development, becoming a defining feature of the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic identities. In scholarship, monotheism is a category used to describe diverse beliefs about the nature and extent of divine unity and sovereignty.