Urmonotheismus, the German for "primitive" or "original monotheism" is a hypothesis first defended by Austrian anthropologist, Catholic priest and member of the Divine Word Missionaries Wilhelm Schmidt (1868–1954) in his Der Ursprung der Gottesidee appearing from 1912, opposing the "Revolutionary Monotheism" approach that traces the emergence of monotheistic thought as a gradual process spanning the Bronze and Iron Age Religions of the Ancient Near East and Classical Antiquity. Ur- is a German prefix meaning prot(o)-, first, oldest, original when used with a noun. ... For the Celtic Frost album, see Monotheist (album) In theology, monotheism (from Greek one and god) is the belief in the existence of one deity or God, or in the oneness of God. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Wilhelm Schmidt (1868-1954) was a German linguist, anthropologist, and ethnologist. ... 1912 (MCMXII) was a leap year starting on Monday in the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday in the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... The Religions of the Ancient Near East were mostly polytheistic, with some early examples of emerging Henotheism (Akhenaton, early Judaism). ... Classical antiquity is a broad term for a long period of cultural history centered on the Mediterranean Sea, which begins roughly with the earliest-recorded Greek poetry of Homer (7th century BC), and continues through the rise of Christianity and the fall of the Western Roman Empire (5th century AD...

Alleged traces of primitive monotheism were located in the deities Assyrian Ashur and Marduk, and of course Hebrew Yahweh. Monotheism in Schmidt's view is the "natural" form of theism, which was later overlaid and "degraded" by polytheism. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Marduk (Sumerian spelling in Akkadian: AMAR.UTU solar calf; Biblical: Merodach) was the Babylonian name of a late-generation god from ancient Mesopotamia and patron deity of the city of Babylon, who, when Babylon permanently became the political center of the Euphrates valley in the time of Hammurabi (18th century... Tetragrammaton redirects here. ... Polytheism is belief in or worship of multiple gods or deities. ...

Urmonotheismus, if accepted, is a powerful argument for Christian mission and colonialism, since the conversion of indigenous peoples to Christian monotheism would then not constitute a destruction of indigenous religions, but rather cleanse them from their "degradation" and restore them in their pristine monotheistic form (see "White Man's Burden"). Since the Lausanne Congress of 1974, a widely-accepted definition of a Christian mission has been to form a viable indigenous church-planting movement. ... It has been suggested that Benign colonialism be merged into this article or section. ... The White Mans Burden is a Eurocentric view of the world used to encourage powerful nations to adopt an imperial role. ...

Schmidt's hypothesis was controversially discussed during much of the first half of the 20th century. In the 1930s, Schmidt adduced evidence from Native American mythology in support of his views (High Gods in North America, 1933). By the 1950s, the hypothesis was effectively refuted, and its proponents of Schmidt's "Vienna school" rephrased it to the effect that while ancient cultures may not have known "true monotheism", they at least show evidence for "original theism" (Ur-Theismus, as opposed to non-theistic animism), with a concept of Hochgott ("High God", as opposed to Eingott "Single God"). Christian apologetics in the light of this have moved away from postulating a "memory of revelation" in pre-Christian religions, replacing it with an "inkling of redemption" or virtuous paganism unconsciously anticipating monotheism. Native American spirituality includes a number of stories and legends that are mythological. ... Theism is the belief in the existence of one or more divinities or deities. ... In its most general sense, the term Animism refers to belief in souls (anima is Latin for soul): in this sense, animism is present in nearly all religions, including religions such as Christianity that see souls as distinct from bodies and as limited to humans. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      Christian apologetics is the... Virtuous paganism is the a concept of Christian theology parallel to the Righteous Among the Nations in Judaism. ...

Abandoned as it was, at least in its strict form, by its original proponents, the hypothesis continues to be defended in pious circles outside academia, in particular in Biblical literalism and creationism, and e.g. Mormon fundamentalism which considers black skin a curse of God for nations that fell away from original monotheism. Thus, Norman Geisler of the Southern Evangelical Seminary defends "Primitive Monotheism" in the sense of Romans 1:19-23, Biblical literalism is the supposed adherence to the explicit and literal sense of the Bible. ... Creationism is the belief that humanity, life, the Earth, and the universe were created in their entirety by a deity or deities (typically God), whose existence is presupposed. ... Teens From Polygamous Families protested on August 19, 2006 In Salt Lake City Mormon fundamentalism most often describes splinter movements of Mormonism that believe or practice what its adherents consider the fundamental aspects of Mormonism. ... From 1830-1833, the Latter Day Saint movement had no policy whatever regarding race. ... Dr. Norman L. Geisler is a scholar, contributor to the field of Christian apologetics, and the author or coauthor of some sixty books defending the Christian faith. ... // Southern Evangelical Seminary is a rapidly growing seminary near Charlotte, North Carolina, dedicated to training men and woment to boldly proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and defend the historic Christian faith (see Christian Apologetics). ...

Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. (KJV) This page is about the version of the Bible; for the Harvey Danger album, see King James Version (album). ...

like Schmidt locating vestiges of original monotheism in primitive religion^[1]

"In all these [primitive African] societies, without a single exception, people have a notion of God as the Supreme Being." This is true of other primitive religions as well, many of which have a High God or Sky God which reflects a basic monotheism."

References

• Raffaele Pettazzoni, Das Ende des Urmonotheismus, Numen (1958).

See also

• Hanif
• Pan-Babylonism
• Prehistoric religion