Monotheism Western Civilization

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Monotheism: The Most Influential Idea That Has Impacted Western Civilization Ashton Kern Kevin Pearl History 101 7 December 2014 Out of the rich history of Western Civilization, the most influential and powerful philosophical idea that has greatly impacted history, and continues to influence modern society across the globe, is indeed the concept of monotheism. This began with the Jewish religion of the Hebrews (also known as Israelites). From there this belief has continued to be a major influence in daily life, politics, culture, and inventions in many major western civilizations since then. This includes civilizations in Mesopotamia, the Exodus, the Greeks, Cyrus the Great of the Persians, the Romans, and the Renaissance…show more content…
However, this idea can be seen in other aspects of this world as with the philosophy of Aristotle; or even with the more modern concept of the scientific method where one should postulate hypotheses, research and do tests, and then draw appropriate and honest results and findings. Even going back to the Old Testament a similar method and promise from Yahweh is seen in the Book of Malachi when he discusses the principle of tithing after the Israelites at the time stopped giving tithes: “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (The Holy Bible, Malachi 3: 10). The key line in this scripture is “prove me now.” The Lord here is giving essentially the same promise as in the Book of Mormon, which is basically telling the Israelites to try it out. See if God will uphold his end of the deal for experimenting with that particular principle of tithing. Thus if one gives credence to the possibility of restoration and apostasy through the history of the world, it can be said that even the Greeks, whose religion was primarily…show more content…
From Mesopotamia and the Code of Hammurabi, Moses and the Exodus, Greek philosophy, the development of countries in Europe, and inventions such as moveable type on the printing press it is clear that monotheism has impacted many facets of daily life across Western Civilization. Many of the major modern religions including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are influenced by the belief in one God. The debates in philosophy around these religions today continue to change the world and people’s beliefs. Even more people in the West today that do not view themselves as religious, but simply as spiritual, believe that there is some singular creative force out in the universe. This can be viewed as being very monotheistic in nature and stems out from past and current belief systems in one universal

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