monoteismia

Monoteismia is a term used in speculative religious studies to denote a theoretical state, doctrine, or field relating to monotheistic belief systems conceived as a unified framework. It is not a widely established term in mainstream theology, but appears in comparative or fictional contexts.

Etymology: From Greek mono- “one” + theos “god” + -ia a suffix indicating a state or condition. Its usage mirrors other -ia formations in academic nomenclature.

Conceptual scope: Encompasses central features such as belief in a single supreme deity, centralized religious authority, standardization of doctrine and ritual, and often monotheistic ethics as governing norm. It can also refer to transitional phenomena when societies shift from polytheistic to monotheistic frameworks, or to fictional world-building where one deity is uniquely authoritative.

Historical and scholarly usage: In actual scholarship, the term appears rarely, typically as a theoretical tool or in speculative fiction, used to compare how monotheistic systems consolidate power or influence social norms, law, and culture.

Critiques: Some scholars argue that the term is vague and potentially anachronistic, risking conflation of separate religious phenomena such as monolatrism, henotheism, or other related forms. Others see value as a heuristic for analyzing unity of belief and authority in monotheistic movements.

See also: monotheism, polytheism, henotheism, monolatry, religious reform.