Origins of monotheism?

[ptmatthews]

Hello,

So I understand the claim that God was, is, and always will be. My misunderstanding is the fact that monotheism didn’t come until the Jews came to be more than 3,000 years ago. Humans have been on Earth for approximately 200,000 years. In that time history has seen many different religions that were polytheistic. I can see the transition from Judaism to Christianity, but from a polytheistic belief to a monotheistic one seems more complicated. If you may please help me with this issue I would greatly appreciate it.

Best Regards,

P. T. Matthews

 

[Fr.Charles_Grondin]

The idea that monotheism did not exist until Judaism (approximately) 3500 years ago is impossible to prove. The religious ideas of various groups of humans prior to the written language is practically unknowable. Even cave paintings can have almost unlimited interpretations and thus are unreliable for hard evidence of what ancient humans actually believed. However by the time of basic human civilization and written language the primary faiths were polytheistic.
Essentially the Christian outline of the development of human religious belief would begin with the first humans having knowledge of the one true God but through sin lost their special relationship with Him and over time sin and lack of knowledge of God turned into belief in superstition, magic, and polytheism. In order to save humanity God revealed Himself to Abraham and began the path away from distortions of faith back to the true knowledge of God.