monotheism

/ˈmɑnəθiɪzəm/

Other forms: monotheisms

Monotheism is the belief in a single all-powerful god, as opposed to religions that believe in multiple gods. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are widely practiced forms of monotheism.

Monotheism comes from the combination of the Greek prefixes monos-, “alone” or “single,” and theo-, “god.” There are many words that come from the Greek base theo-: theology, polytheist, and atheism, to name a few. All of these theo- words have to do with god, gods, or the study of religion. Monotheism is any religion that believes in one god. Buddhism, for instance, isn’t an example of monotheism because Buddha is not considered a god who created the universe.

Definitions of monotheism

1. noun

   belief in a single God
   antonyms:

   polytheism

   belief in multiple gods

   types:

   Judaism

   the monotheistic religion of the Jews having its spiritual and ethical principles embodied chiefly in the Torah and in the Talmud

   Islam, Islamism, Mohammedanism, Muhammadanism, Muslimism

   the monotheistic religious system of Muslims founded in Arabia in the 7th century and based on the teachings of Muhammad as laid down in the Koran

   Orthodox Judaism

   beliefs and practices of a Judaic sect that strictly observes Mosaic law

   Conservative Judaism

   beliefs and practices of Conservative Jews

   Reform Judaism

   beliefs and practices of Reform Jews

   Mahdism

   belief in the appearance of the Mahdi; devotion to a Mahdi

   Salafi movement, Salafism

   a militant group of extremist Sunnis who believe themselves the only correct interpreters of the Koran and consider moderate Muslims to be infidels; seek to convert all Muslims and to insure that its own fundamentalist version of Islam will dominate the world

   Shiism

   the branch of Islam that regards Ali as the legitimate successor to Mohammed and rejects the first three caliphs

   Wahabism, Wahhabism

   a conservative and intolerant form of Islam that is practiced in Saudi Arabia

   type of:

   theism

   the doctrine or belief in the existence of a God or gods