PK-101 Islamic Studies

Monotheism: Monotheism is defined as the belief in the existence of only one god that

created the world, is all-powerful and intervenes in the world. A broader definition of
monotheism is the belief in one god. The term "monolatry" was perhaps first used
by Julius Wellhausen. The broader definition of monotheism characterizes the traditions
of Bábism, the Bahá'í Faith, Balinese Hinduism, Cao Dai (Caodaiism), Cheondoism
(Cheondogyo), Christianity, Deism, Eckankar, Hindu sects such
as Shaivism and Vaishnavism, Islam, Judaism, Mandaeism, Rastafari, Seicho no
Ie, Sikhism, Tengrism (Tangrism), Tenrikyo (Tenriism), Yazidism and elements of pre-
monotheistic thought are found in early religions such as Atenism, ancient Chinese
religion, and Yahwism. The word monotheism comes from the Greek
word μόνος (monos) meaning "single" and θεός (theos) meaning "GOD". The English
term was first used by Henry More (1614–1687).

Polytheism: Polytheism (from Greek word πολυθεϊσμός, polytheismos) is the worship of

or belief in multiple deities, which are usually assembled into
a pantheon of gods and goddesses, along with their own religions and rituals. In most
religions which accept polytheism, the different gods and goddesses are representations
of forces of nature or ancestral principles, and can be viewed either as autonomous or as
aspects or emanations of a creator deity or transcendental absolute
principle (monistic theologies), which manifests immanently in nature
(panentheisticand pantheistic theologies). Most of the polytheistic deities of ancient
religions, with the notable exceptions of the Ancient Egyptian and Hindu deities, were
conceived as having physical bodies. Polytheism is a type of theism. Within theism, it
contrasts with monotheism, the belief in a singular God, in most cases transcendent.
Polytheists do not always worship all the gods equally, but they can be henotheists,
specializing in the worship of one particular deity. Other polytheists can
be kathenotheists, worshiping different deities at different times. Polytheism was the
typical form of religion during the Bronze Age and Iron Age up to the Axial Age and the
development of Abrahamic religions, the latter of which enforced strict monotheism. It
is well documented in historical religions of Classical antiquity, especially ancient Greek
religion and ancient Roman religion, and after the decline of Greco-Roman polytheism in
tribal religions such as Germanic paganism or Slavic paganism. Important polytheistic
religions practiced today include Chinese traditional religion, Hinduism,
Japanese Shinto, Santeria, and various neopagan faiths.
Atheism: Atheism is, in the broadest sense, the absence of belief in the existence
of deities. Less broadly, atheism is the rejection of belief that any deities exist. In an even
narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities. Atheism is
contrasted with theism, which, in its most general form, is the belief that at least one
deity exists. The etymological root for the word atheism originated before the 5th
century BCE from the ancient Greek ἄθεος (atheos), meaning "without god(s)". In
antiquity it had multiple uses as a pejorative term applied to those thought to reject the
gods worshiped by the larger society, those who were forsaken by the gods, or those
who had no commitment to belief in the gods. The term denoted a social category
created by orthodox religionists into which those who did not share their religious
beliefs were placed. The actual term atheism emerged first in the 16th century. With the
spread of freethought, skeptical inquiry, and subsequent increase in criticism of religion,
application of the term narrowed in scope. The first individuals to identify themselves
using the word atheist lived in the 18th century during the Age of
Enlightenment. The French Revolution, noted for its "unprecedented atheism,"
witnessed the first major political movement in history to advocate for the supremacy of
human reason. The French Revolution can be described as the first period where
atheism became implemented politically. Arguments for atheism range from the
philosophical to social and historical approaches. Rationales for not believing in deities
include arguments that there is a lack of empirical evidence, the problem of evil,
the argument from inconsistent revelations, the rejection of concepts that cannot be
falsified, and the argument from nonbelief. Nonbelievers contend that atheism is a
more parsimoniousposition than theism and that everyone is born without beliefs in
deities; therefore, they argue that the burden of proof lies not on the atheist to disprove
the existence of gods but on the theist to provide a rationale for theism. Although some
atheists have adopted secular philosophies (e.g. secular humanism), there is no one
ideology or set of behaviors to which all atheists adhere. Since conceptions of atheism
vary, accurate estimations of current numbers of atheists are difficult. According to
global Win-Gallup International studies, 7% of respondents were "convinced atheists" in
2018, and in 2017, 15% were "convinced atheists".