Books in the Elements in Religion and Monotheism series

This Element examines aspects of monotheism and hope. Distinguishing monotheism from nontheistic religions, it explores how God transcends terms used to describe the religious ultimate. Wainwright examines the loves prized in Islam, Christianity and theistic Hinduism, and defends the sort of love valorized by them against some charges against it.

If there is one God, why are there so many religions? This Element argues that monotheism provides the basis for a belief in objective truth. Human understanding is fallible and partial, without the idea of one God, there is no foundation for a belief in one reality or a common human nature. The shadow of monotheism lies over everything.

In this Element, Michael Ruse offers a critical analysis of contemporary atheism. He puts special emphasis on the work of so-called 'New Atheists': Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett, and Christopher Hitchins, whose views are contrasted with those of Edward O. Wilson.

Monotheism and the Meaning of Life explores the role of God, and the relationship to the question 'What is the meaning of life?' for adherents of the main monotheistic religions. Mawson argues that there are various questions implicit in the notion of the meaning of life.

This Element explores ideas on trans-polytheism and Nirvana, along with overlaps in Buddhist and monotheist ideas and practices, the development of more theist-like ideas in Mahayana Buddhism, Buddhist critiques of the idea of a creator God, and some contemporary Buddhist views and appreciations of monotheisms.

This Element shows how monotheism contributed to science's rise, explores reasons for supposing that science is taking over monotheism's traditional roles in western culture and considers how the relationship between science's high standing and the status of monotheism might appear in the future.

Forgiveness is a hallmark teaching within monotheistic religions. This Element introduces the topic in three ways. First, it considers the extent to which forgiveness is specific to or constituted by monotheistic beliefs, by a comparison with analogous teaching and practice in Buddhism. Second, the most extensive section explores the grammar of forgiveness shared across the Abrahamic traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam - elements of repentance, intercession, and eschatological deferral. This section identifies some of the divergent tendencies or emphases on this topic among those traditions. A third section addresses the role of forgiveness and monotheistic religions in human cultural evolution and the emergence of eusociality. The aim is for the reader to gain an introductory view of monotheism and forgiveness from a comparative religious example, from an internal examination of Abrahamic traditions, and from a developmental, secular perspective.

In the Hebrew Bible, various aspects of theism exist though monotheistic faith stands out, and the New Testament largely continues with Jewish monotheism. This Element examines diverse aspects of monotheism in the Hebrew Bible and their implications to others or race relations. Also, it investigates monotheistic faith in the New Testament writings and its impact on race relations, including the work of Jesus and Paul's apostolic mission. While inclusive monotheism fosters race relations, exclusive monotheism harms race relations. This Element also engages contemporary biblical interpretations about the Bible, monotheistic faith, and race/ethnicity.