God is the term used to denote the Supreme Being ascribed by many religions to be the creator, ruler and/or the sum total of, existence. Conceptions of God vary widely, despite the common use of the same term for them all. God - Definition. God - Concept of God. In many Western religions, God is usually said to have a specific and clearly defined relationship to, and interest in, the happenings of this world and the lives of those in it. Metaphors for God's relationship t ...

Including:

• God - Definition
• God - Concept of God
• God - Attributes of God
• God - Etymology
• God - Capitalization
• God - Names of God
• God - History of monotheism
• God - Theology
• God - Conceptions of God
• God - Abrahamic conceptions
• God - Conceptions of God in Hinduism
• God - Christian Monism
• God - The Ultimate
• God - Aristotelian definition of God
• God - Modern views
• God - Notes and references
• God - Popular Culture

Read more here: » God: Encyclopedia - God

See also:

God, God - Etymology, God - Capitalization, God - Names of God, God - History of monotheism, God - Theology, God - Conceptions of God, God - Abrahamic conceptions, God - Conceptions of God in Hinduism, God - Christian Monism, God - The Ultimate, God - Aristotelian definition of God, God - Modern views, God - Notes and references, God - Popular Culture

Read more here: » God: Encyclopedia II - God - History of monotheism

See also monotheism, Abrahamic religion. The religions that are monotheistic today are often thought of as having been of relatively recent historical origin—although efforts at comparison are usually beset by claims of most religions to being very ancient or eternal. Eastern religions, especially in China and India, that have concepts of panentheism, are notably difficult to classify along ...

See also:

God, God - Definition, God - Concept of God, God - Attributes of God, God - Etymology, God - Capitalization, God - Names of God, God - History of monotheism, God - Theology, God - Conceptions of God, God - Abrahamic conceptions, God - Conceptions of God in Hinduism, God - Christian Monism, God - The Ultimate, God - Aristotelian definition of God, God - Modern views, God - Notes and references, God - Popular Culture

Read more here: » God: Encyclopedia II - God - History of monotheism

The recent killings in the land of the Mahatma, the apostle of peace and non- violence, raises a very serious question. Is human consciousness being governed by the tenets of a few religious texts or is it capable of transcending all barriers for the sake of universal brotherhood?

Christians have killed Jews. Jews and Muslims are fighting all the time. Hindus have a long history of wars going back to the time of the Mahabharata. Despite the advancement of science, people continue to fight on national, religious or racial criteria.

(See also: Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

There are a number of basic Jewish principles of faith that one is expected to uphold in order to be said to be in consonance with the Jewish faith. However, unlike most Christian denominations, the Jewish community has never developed any one binding catechism. A number of formulations of Jewish beliefs have appeared, though there is some dispute over how many basic principles there are. Rabbi Joseph Albo, for instance, in Sefer Ha-Ikkarim counts three principles of faith, while Maimonides lists thirteen. While some lat ...

Including:

• Jewish principles of faith - Jewish principles of faith
• Jewish principles of faith - Monotheism
• Jewish principles of faith - God as Creator of the universe
• Jewish principles of faith - God is One
• Jewish principles of faith - God is all-powerful
• Jewish principles of faith - God is personal and cares about humanity
• Jewish principles of faith - Names of God
• Jewish principles of faith - The Nature of God
• Jewish principles of faith - To God alone may one offer prayer
• Jewish principles of faith - Scripture
• Jewish principles of faith - The words of the prophets are true
• Jewish principles of faith - The status of Moses
• Jewish principles of faith - The origin of the Torah
• Jewish principles of faith - Holy Books
• Jewish principles of faith - Reward and punishment
• Jewish principles of faith - Israel chosen for a purpose
• Jewish principles of faith - The messianic age
• Jewish principles of faith - The soul is pure at birth
• Jewish principles of faith - History and development
• Jewish principles of faith - No formal text canonized
• Jewish principles of faith - Gaining converts
• Jewish principles of faith - Is faith necessary?
• Jewish principles of faith - Belief in the Oral Law
• Jewish principles of faith - Belief in the Medieval era
• Jewish principles of faith - Maimonides' 13 principles of faith
• Jewish principles of faith - Principles of faith after Maimonides
• Jewish principles of faith - The Enlightenment
• Jewish principles of faith - Holocaust theology
• Jewish principles of faith - Dogma in Judaism

Read more here: » Jewish principles of faith: Encyclopedia - Jewish principles of faith

Binitarianism is a theology of two in one God, as opposed to one (unitarianism) or three (trinitarianism). Classically, it is understood as strict monotheism — that is, that God is an absolutely single being; and yet there is a "twoness" in God. At times, this monotheism drifted toward a "twoness" of God: that is, two Beings in one "God family" that is in agreement with itself, composed of the Father and the Son. These two strains of a theology of two, and one God developed alongside one ano ...

Including:

• Binitarianism - In scholarly views of early Christian theology
• Binitarianism - Church of God binitarianism
• Binitarianism - Contrast with trinitarians
• Binitarianism - Compared to Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholics
• Binitarianism - Binitarianism Throughout History
• Binitarianism - Conclusion

Read more here: » Binitarianism: Encyclopedia - Binitarianism

Theism is the belief in one or more gods or goddesses. More specifically, it may also mean the belief in God, a god, or gods, who is/are actively involved in maintaining the Universe. This secondary meaning is shown in context to other beliefs concerning the divine below. The term is attested in English from 1678, and was probably coined to contrast with atheism attested from ca. 1587 (see t ...

Read more here: » Theism: Encyclopedia - Theism

Known rulers, in the History of Egypt, for the Eighteenth Dynasty. The Eighteenth, Nineteen and Twentieth Dynasties of ancient Egypt are often combined under the group title, New Kingdom. The Eighteenth Dynasty is perhaps the most famous of all the dynasties of ancient Egypt. It included Tutankhamen, whose relatively undisturbed tomb was one of the greatest of all archaeological discoveries, Akhenaten, widely held to have promoted the first expression of monotheism, as well as a number of Egypt's most power ...

Read more here: » Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt: Encyclopedia - Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt

Polytheism is belief in, or worship of, multiple gods or divinities. The word comes from the Greek words poly+theoi, literally "many gods." Most ancient religions were polytheistic, holding to pantheons of traditional deities, often accumulated over centuries of cultural interchange and experience. The belief in many gods does not preclude the belief in an all- powerful all-knowing supreme being. In polytheistic belief systems, gods are conceived as complex personages of greater or lesser status, with individual skills, ...

Including:

• Polytheism - Overview
• Polytheism - Ancient polytheism
• Polytheism - Gods and divinity
• Polytheism - The Indic Traditions

Read more here: » Polytheism: Encyclopedia - Polytheism

Islam History of Islam Oneness of God Profession of Faith Prayer • Fasting Pilgrimage • Charity Muhammad Ali • Abu Bakr Companions of Muhammad Household of Muhammad Prophets of Islam Qur'an • Hadith • Sharia Jurisprudence Biographies of Muhammad Sunni • Shi'a • Sufi Art • Architecture Cities • Calendar Science • Philosophy Religious leaders Women in Islam Political Islam • Jihad Liberal Islam Vocabula ...

Including:

• Allah - Etymology
• Allah - Allah as a word
• Allah - Islamic use of Allāh
• Allah - Uses of Allāh in phrases
• Allah - Islamic concept of God
• Allah - Other beliefs

Read more here: » Allah: Encyclopedia - Allah

Islam History of Islam Oneness of God Profession of Faith Prayer • Fasting Pilgrimage • Charity Muhammad Ali • Abu Bakr Companions of Muhammad Household of Muhammad Prophets of Islam Qur'an • Hadith • Sharia Jurisprudence • Theology Biographies of Muhammad Sunni • Shi'a • Sufi Art • Architecture Cities • Calendar Science • Philosophy Religious leaders Women in Islam Polit ...

Including:

• Tawhīd - Verses from the Qur'ān
• Tawhīd - Nullification of Tawheed
• Tawhīd - Non-Muslim uses

Read more here: » Tawhīd: Encyclopedia - Tawhīd

Atenism (or the Amarna heresy) is the monotheistic religion associated above all with the eighteenth dynasty Pharaoh Amenhotep IV, better known under the name he later adopted, Akhenaten. In the 14th century BC it was Egypt's state religion for around 20 years, before a return to the traditional gods so comprehensive that the heretic Pharaohs associated with Atenism were erased from Egyptian records. Atenism - Atenist revolution. The Aten, the god of Atenism, first appears in texts dating to the 12th ...

Including:

• Atenism - Atenist revolution
• Atenism - Contrast with traditional Egyptian religion
• Atenism - Amarna art
• Atenism - Decline of Atenism
• Atenism - Other Atenism influences

Read more here: » Atenism: Encyclopedia - Atenism

A goddess is a female deity, in contrast with a male deity known as a "god". A great many cultures have goddesses, sometimes alone, but more often as part of a larger pantheon that includes both of the conventional genders and in some cases even hermaphroditic (or gender neutral) deities. As the concept of monotheism and polytheism can be relativistic, so too can related concepts be culturally misunderstood. The concept of gender as applied to a god and goddess, may connote deeper tendencies of patriarchy and matriarchy, which ...

Including:

• Goddess - Ancient Near East
• Goddess - Egypt
• Goddess - Mesopotamia
• Goddess - Arabia
• Goddess - Indo-European religion
• Goddess - Hinduism
• Goddess - Graeco-Roman religion
• Goddess - Celtic religion
• Goddess - Germanic religion
• Goddess - Abrahamic religions
• Goddess - Judaism
• Goddess - Christianity
• Goddess - Islam
• Goddess - New religious movements
• Goddess - Wicca and Neopaganism
• Goddess - Religious feminism
• Goddess - Secular use

Read more here: » Goddess: Encyclopedia - Goddess

Athenagoras (circa 133-190) was a Christian apologist of the second half of the 2nd century of whom little is known for certain, besides that he was Athenian (though possibly not originally from Athens), a philosopher, and a convert to Christianity. There is some evidence that he was a Platonist before his conversion, but this is not certain. Athenagoras of Athens - Work and writings. Although his work appears to have been well-known and influential, mention of him by other early Christian apologist ...

Including:

• Athenagoras of Athens - Work and writings

Read more here: » Athenagoras of Athens: Encyclopedia - Athenagoras of Athens

Monism is the metaphysical and theological view that there is only one principle, essence, substance or energy in this Universe. Monism is to be distinguished from dualism, which holds that ultimately there are two principles, and from pluralism, which holds that ultimately there are many principles. Monism - Theological growth and breadth. Hinduism (including Vedanta and Yoga), Taoism, Buddhism, Pantheism, Zen, and similar systems of thought explore the mystical and spiritual elements of a monistic philoso ...

Including:

• Monism - Theological growth and breadth
• Monism - Philosophical monism
• Monism - Monism Pantheism and Panentheism
• Monism - Monism in religion
• Monism - Hinduism
• Monism - Christianity
• Monism - Judaism
• Monism - Ayyavazhi
• Monism - Others
• Monism - Ancient philosophers

Read more here: » Monism: Encyclopedia - Monism

A fetish (from French fétiche; from Portuguese feitiço; from Latin facticius, "artificial" and facere, "to make") is a natural object believed to have supernatural powers, or in particular an object created by people that has power over people. Fetishism - History. The concept was coined by Charles de Brosses in 1757, while comparing West African religion to the magical aspects of Ancient Egyptian religion. He and other 18th century scholars used the concept to apply evolution ...

Including:

• Fetishism - History
• Fetishism - Practice
• Fetishism - Other uses of the term fetishism

Read more here: » Fetishism: Encyclopedia - Fetishism

Jewish principles of faith - Monotheism. Judaism is based on a strict unitarian monotheism, the belief in one God. The prayer par excellence in terms of defining God is the Shema Yisrael, "Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One", also translated as "Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is unique/alone." God is conceived of as eternal, the creator of the universe, and the source of morality. God has the power to intervene in the world. The term God thus corresponds to an actual o ...

See also:

Jewish principles of faith, Jewish principles of faith - Jewish principles of faith, Jewish principles of faith - Monotheism, Jewish principles of faith - God as Creator of the universe, Jewish principles of faith - God is One, Jewish principles of faith - God is all-powerful, Jewish principles of faith - God is personal and cares about humanity, Jewish principles of faith - Names of God, Jewish principles of faith - The Nature of God, Jewish principles of faith - To God alone may one offer prayer, Jewish principles of faith - Scripture, Jewish principles of faith - The words of the prophets are true, Jewish principles of faith - The status of Moses, Jewish principles of faith - The origin of the Torah, Jewish principles of faith - Holy Books, Jewish principles of faith - Reward and punishment, Jewish principles of faith - Israel chosen for a purpose, Jewish principles of faith - The messianic age, Jewish principles of faith - The soul is pure at birth, Jewish principles of faith - History and development, Jewish principles of faith - No formal text canonized, Jewish principles of faith - Gaining converts, Jewish principles of faith - Is faith necessary?, Jewish principles of faith - Belief in the Oral Law, Jewish principles of faith - Belief in the Medieval era, Jewish principles of faith - Maimonides' 13 principles of faith, Jewish principles of faith - Principles of faith after Maimonides, Jewish principles of faith - The Enlightenment, Jewish principles of faith - Holocaust theology, Jewish principles of faith - Dogma in Judaism

Read more here: » Jewish principles of faith: Encyclopedia II - Jewish principles of faith - Jewish principles of faith

History of Christianity Jesus of Nazareth The Apostles Ecumenical councils Great Schism The Crusades Reformation The Trinity God the Father Christ the Son The Holy Spirit The Bible Old Testament New Testament Apocrypha The Gospels Ten Commandments Sermon on the Mount Christian theology Salvation · Grace Christian worship Christian Church Catholicism Orthodox Christianity Protestantism Christian denomi ...

See also:

God the Father, God the Father - God the Father in polytheistic religions, God the Father - God the Father in monotheism, God the Father - The Israelite Father God, God the Father - The gender of God in monotheism, God the Father - God the Father in Christianity, God the Father - Trinitarianism and other Christian conceptions, God the Father - External link

Read more here: » God the Father: Encyclopedia II - God the Father - God the Father in Christianity

Well-known polytheistic pantheons in history include the Sumerian gods, the Egyptian gods, the Greek religion, Norse Æsir and Vanir, the Yoruba Orisha, the Aztec gods, and many others. Today, most historical polytheistic religions are referred to as "mythology", though the stories cultures tell about their gods should be distinguished from their cultus or religious practice. Few ancient religions, indeed, were not polytheistic. Those that weren't include early Vedic Hinduism (which has been termed at the most henotheistic with ...

See also:

Polytheism, Polytheism - Overview, Polytheism - Ancient polytheism, Polytheism - Gods and divinity, Polytheism - The Indic Traditions A form of Inclusive Monotheism not Polytheism

Read more here: » Polytheism: Encyclopedia II - Polytheism - Ancient polytheism

Although monotheism is fundamental to Rabbinic Judaism, many critical Bible scholars claim that certain verses in the Torah imply that the early Israelites accepted the existence of other gods, while viewing their God as the sole Creator, whose worship is obligated (a rather henotheistic point of view). According to them, it was only by the Hellenic period that most Jews came to believe that their God was the only God (and thus, the God of everyone), and that the record of His revelation (the Torah) contained within it universal truths. They ...

See also:

Judaism, Judaism - Introduction, Judaism - Monotheism, Judaism - Practical worship and the laws, Judaism - Traditional view of the development of Judaism, Judaism - Critical historical view of the development of Judaism, Judaism - Religious doctrine and Principles of Faith, Judaism - The traditional Jewish bookshelf, Judaism - Jewish Law and interpretation, Judaism - What makes a person Jewish?, Judaism - Jewish philosophy, Judaism - Jewish denominations, Judaism - Jewish denominations in Israel, Judaism - Karaism, Judaism - Jewish prayer and practice, Judaism - Prayers, Judaism - Jewish holidays, Judaism - Torah readings, Judaism - Synagogues and Jewish buildings, Judaism - Dietary laws: Kashrut, Judaism - Family purity, Judaism - Life-cycle events, Judaism - Community leadership, Judaism - Classical priesthood, Judaism - Prayer leaders, Judaism - Specialized religious roles, Judaism - Jewish religious history, Judaism - Ancient Jewish religious history, Judaism - Historical Jewish groupings to 1700, Judaism - Persecutions, Judaism - Hasidism, Judaism - The Enlightenment and Reform Judaism, Judaism - The Holocaust, Judaism - The present situation, Judaism - Judaism and other religions, Judaism - Christianity and Judaism, Judaism - Islam and Judaism, Judaism - Jews and Judaism, Judaism - Jewish law and religion, Judaism - Comparative

Read more here: » Judaism: Encyclopedia II - Judaism - Critical historical view of the development of Judaism