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     Religion means different things to different people, and definitions of it vary widely.  Generally it involves beliefs, behaviors, feelings of devotion  and obligation to faith in the divine or what is held to be of ultimate importance.  For most people, the latter is God, and religion is about faith in God.  In distinguishing between beliefs based on reason vs. those grounded in faith, one separates beliefs supported by facts and concepts, ultimately linked to observation and experience, which fit together in a coherent way as part of a useful, logical framework, and those for which there is no such basis, but instead only one’s unshaken feeling of confidence, trust, and willingness to believe.  Many religious people feel connected by their faith in God: they value the sense of belonging and of community they feel by regularly attending church. 

#8A: Monotheists worship one God, so they are not 1) pagans or polytheists who worship many gods—the religion of such indigenous peoples may be understood by considering their "Belonging to Nature" (worldview theme #27), or 2) atheists or agnostics. (Note themes #8A and #10 "Secular Humanism" are diametrically opposed.)  Christianity, despite its belief that God is a threefold Trinity: the Father (God), the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit, is nonetheless considered a monotheistic religion.

     Proponents of "Monotheism" believe the universe had a beginning and identify God as its Creator (Figure #8c).  They accept "Vitalism" (worldview theme #5B) but, refusing to accept any particular religious holy book as God's literal word, don't like "Religious Fundamentalism" (theme #9A).  They interpret such sacred texts from historical and metaphorical viewpoints, rather than from a literal, infallible God viewpoint.  

     Those who believe in one God or Cosmic Mind, but not one who created the universe or supplied a vital spark, may appreciate "Mysticism" (worldview theme #7A).  A key difference between mystics and monotheists is in how they answer the question, "Reality is ultimately composed of what kinds of substances and how many of each kind?"  The former adherents are absolute monists who answer "One—All is One," whereas those preferring "Monotheism" typically hold that Reality is composed of two different kinds of substance, often referred to as matter and spirit (dualism of substance).

     Different conceptions of God arise from considering other questions, a first being "How did God create the universe?"  Responses here might divide between those who 1) are deists, reject teleology and feel God initiated creation (providing "first cause"), but is otherwise a "Blind Watchmaker" who lets the universe's subsequent evolution proceed through natural laws,

and 2) accept teleology and see God as an Intelligent Designer  who purposely acts (Figure #8a), but makes no use of an "undirected process such as natural selection."  Most scientists are more comfortable with the first view than the second.

     Many Christians, Jews, and Muslims continue to believe God created the universe out of nothing (creation ex nihilo.)  How powerful is a God who can do that?  Many feel He is omniscient and omnipotent—all knowing and all powerful.  Others point to logical contradictions and difficulties that giving God infinite knowledge and power can produce.  One of these demands consideration of the question "Does God allow humans free will?" (see themes #11A & 11B).

      If your religion ends with "Monotheism"—and doesn't extend to "Belief in a Personal God"  (theme #8B) who looks out for you, perhaps to the detriment of someone else, or in a God who uses words (theme #9A), or moralizes or offers salvation (theme #14A)—you avoid beliefs that have divided people for millennia, and difficult to answer questions about God. (See Figure #8b.)  In its simplest form, monotheism is potentially a great unifying force for all humanity. 

#8B:  "Belief in a Personal God" involves conceiving of God as a personal being with a personality.  Those who subscribe to it believe God interferes with the workings of the universe: that His personal interest in the world and its people is such  that He will intervene on behalf of worshippers (performing miracles or whatever).  Most claim to communicate with God through introspection and praying.  The latter can be described as making humble requests of God—often preceded by confession and accompanied by praise, evidence of adoration, expression of gratitude, promises, etc.  Many people pray regularly, others only when seeking guidance during difficult times.

     Some see God as benevolent.  They believe in God's grace: that God, Nature or Reality is ultimately on his or her side and will occasionally gift one with unwarranted help, even when such belief is difficult to sustain given hardships or evidence to the contrary.  Many Jews who survived the Holocaust—when half their population was exterminated by the Nazis—continued to believe that a loving God was looking out for them.  Some holy people—most recently Mother Teresa—have admitted to having their faith challenged by a "dark night of the soul"— when they felt God had abandoned them or no longer heard their prayers.  Some emerge from this with renewed faith. 

     Others view God darkly: as authoritarian, as very capable of meting out punishment—especially to sinners or the ungodly.  Psychologists trace the origin of such conceptions to childhood.  Many in the Western world have a child/Father relationship with God (the Judeo-Christian-Islamic Conception of God). Children who grew up with a dominating, authoritarian father may, as adults, always feel subject to God’s authority and strive to obey His commands.  One thus sees how incorporating theme #8B into a worldview often leads to also putting the "Moralistic God" of worldview theme #14A with it, and why God is traditionally thought of as a He!        

Figure #8a

Figure #8c

God, the Creator (anicent Chinese)

Figure #8b

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