Monotheism

This chapter discusses Josiah Royce's thoughts on monotheism. In the history of religion, monotheism, the doctrine that “there is one God,” or that “God is One,” is sharply opposed to a wide range of beliefs and teachings. However, in the history of philosophy, monotheism has a narrower range of contrasting or opposing beliefs. The philosophical problem of monotheism is, (1) in what sense is the world real? (2) In what sense is the world a rational order? (3) In what sense is the world ethical? The problem of monotheism requires a synthesis of all the three ideas of God, and an answer that is just to all three problems. Whether monotheism is true or not can be discovered only through a clear recognition of the contrast of the three ideas of God, and the synthesis which shall bring them into some sort of harmony.