Monotheism
<p ><b>Monotheism</b> is defined by the <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica" title="Encyclopædia Britannica" >Encyclopædia Britannica</a></i> as belief in the existence of one <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deity" title="Deity" >god</a> or in the oneness of God.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monotheism#cite_note-1" >[1]</a></sup> The <i>Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church</i>gives a more restricted definition: "belief in one <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_god" title="Personal god" >personal</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcendence_(religion)" title="Transcendence (religion)" >transcendent</a> God", as opposed to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polytheism" title="Polytheism" >polytheism</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantheism" title="Pantheism" >pantheism</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-odccmono_2-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monotheism#cite_note-odccmono-2" >[2]</a></sup> A distinction may be made between exclusive monotheism, and both inclusive monotheism and pluriform monotheism which, while recognising many distinct gods, postulate some underlying unity.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monotheism#cite_note-3" >[3]</a></sup>
Monotheism characterizes the traditions of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atenism" title="Atenism" >Atenism</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babism" title="Babism" class="mw-redirect" >Babism</a>, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bah%C3%A1%27%C3%AD_Faith" title="Bahá'í Faith" >Bahá'í Faith</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cao_Dai" title="Cao Dai" class="mw-redirect" >Cao Dai (Caodaiism)</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheondoism" title="Cheondoism" >Cheondoism (Cheondogyo)</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity" title="Christianity" >Christianity</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deism" title="Deism" >Deism</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eckankar" title="Eckankar" >Eckankar</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam" title="Islam" >Islam</a>,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaism" title="Judaism" >Judaism</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rastafari" title="Rastafari" class="mw-redirect" >Rastafari</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravidassia_religion" title="Ravidassia religion" >Ravidassia religion</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seicho_no_Ie" title="Seicho no Ie" class="mw-redirect" >Seicho no Ie</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaivism" title="Shaivism" >Shaivism</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism" title="Sikhism" >Sikhism</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenrikyo" title="Tenrikyo" >Tenrikyo (Tenriism)</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaishnavism" title="Vaishnavism" >Vaishnavism</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism" title="Zoroastrianism" >Zoroastrianism</a> and elements of the belief are discernible in numerous other religions.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monotheism#cite_note-4" >[4]</a></sup></p>