Urmonotheismus: Difference between revisions
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'''''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]]. |
'''''Urmonotheismus''''', the German for [[Ur-|"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]]. |
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Alleged traces of primitive monotheism were located in the deities Assyrian [[Assur]] 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]]. |
Alleged traces of primitive monotheism were located in the deities Assyrian [[Assur]] 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]]. |
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Revision as of 09:22, 12 June 2007
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.
Alleged traces of primitive monotheism were located in the deities Assyrian Assur 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.
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.
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 creationism, and e.g. Mormon fundamentalism which considers black skin a curse of God for nations that fell away from original monotheism.
Literature
- Raffaele Pettazzoni, Das Ende des Urmonotheismus, Numen (1958).