Introduction
This paper aims to explain why Judaism is a monotheistic religion as opposed to claims that it is polytheistic. This paper will seek to disambiguate this notion and explain these misconceptions. Judaism is an ethical monotheistic religion and the relation of Abraham to this definition will be explained. Ethical monotheism has several properties of God that will be explained in this paper.
Monotheistic religion involves the belief in one God who is supreme. Judaism has always been a monotheistic religion despite the different verses in the Bible that people would what to quote to prove otherwise. Although the Israelites were sometimes influenced by their surrounding neighbors to sometimes worship idols, they largely remained loyal to their Supreme God. In the book of Hebrews which is quoted as an example showing that the Judaists were polytheists, we see Jacob telling his household and those around him to do away with those foreign gods and that they purify themselves. The reason for purifying themselves was because they had desecrated themselves in the eyes of God. This is because these gods were not part of Judaism and therefore they were deemed foreign. These gods were brought by the neighboring communities who worshipped idols as their supreme beings. Judaism can be said to be the first religion to proclaim monotheism.
Judaism can be termed as an ethical monotheistic religion because it thrives under the doctrine that it is almost impossible to discard holiness and at the same time lead an ethical life. One basic rule of Judaism is that God calls for ethical behaviors. This shows that He cares about how human beings relate to one another and the other things that come after.
Therefore this religion is based on ethics that have been passed from one generation to another since the times of Abraham. God revealed his wishes of how the Israelites should live through the issuance of the Ten Commandments. These commandments formed the basic ethics that the Judaists would follow. Abraham can be said to be the father of this religion. Abraham would go and talk to God one on one and later bring God’s message to the people. Therefore the Israelites learned to put into importance the laws between them and God. Ethical monotheism teaches that there should only be one God. This God is holy, supernatural, good, and personal.
Personal
By indicating that God is personal it explains that He has great care for everything that He created. This religion teaches that there is no way that God could create everything then abandon it. Therefore this ethical monotheism teaches that God cares about us and He, therefore, cares how we treat one another.
Goodness
Ethical monotheism also teaches that God is good and thus demands goodness from us. He ensures justice for the evils that are committed. This justice is meted out in this life or the afterlife.
Holy
Holiness is what makes the human being to be elevated and become a creature modeled in the true image of his creator. Human beings according to these teachings are expected to be holy and act as if they are the face of God when on earth.
Conclusion
This paper has discussed why Judaism is a monotheistic religion and also explained the misconceptions. An ethical monotheistic religion has been explained and also why Judaism is one. The connection of Abraham to this has also been explained.