Monotheism

There are more than 4,000 religions in the world. And while these beliefs vary widely, many of them can be generally categorized as forms of either monotheism or polytheism.

Monotheism is the belief or doctrine that there is one—and only one—god or deity. which is to worship one god while denying the existence of other gods. In this case, monotheism is distinguished from polytheism, the belief in the existence of many gods, from atheism, the belief that there is no god, and from agnosticism, the belief that the existence or nonexistence of a god or of gods is unknown or unknowable. Groups in Ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt practiced some form of polytheism and monotheism.

Monotheism comes from the combination of the Greek prefixes monos-, “alone” or “single,” and theo-, “god.” There are many words that come from the Greek base theo-: theology, polytheist, and atheism, to name a few.

Many religions in the world are classified as monotheistic, and the preeminent examples are Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The three religions trace their origins back to Abraham, who, in Genesis, had humanity’s first relationship with God after the failures of Noah’s flood and the Tower of Babel. Judaism and Christianity trace their tie to Abraham through his son Isaac, and Islam traces it through his son Ishmael.

There are several ancient civilizations that were monotheistic. Zoroastrianism was the main monotheist religion in Persia. They believed in one god called Ahura Mazda.

A person who believes in only one god can be called a monotheist. The adjective form, monotheistic, is typically used in terms like monotheistic religions and monotheistic beliefs.
Monotheism

Important role of diamond in ancient India

It is unclear when diamonds were first mine in India, although estimate to be in the ancient times. Diamonds were used to decorate religious objects, serve as a talisman against evil and a protector in battle.

The Ratnapariksa by Buddha Bhatta, from the fifth century CE, contains the diamonds’ myth of origin: According to this legend, the gods were unable to overcome the king Bala. To avert defeat they ask him to offer himself in sacrifice in a ritual to their honour.

Bala is too proud to refuse, and his boy is torn to pieces. Because of the valor and purity of his voluntary death, his remains turn into diamonds.

Gods, serpents and the minor divinities of Siddhas and Yakshas pick them up, and in flying over the land, let them fall to the earth and there create diamond deposits.

The Hindus classed diamonds according to the four categories. The Brahmin diamond (colorless) gave power, friends, riches and good luck; the Kshatriya (brown/champagne) prevented old age; Vaisya (the color of Kodali flower) brought success; and the Sudra (a diamond with the sheen of a polished blade-probably gray or black) brought all types of good fortune. If a diamond is worn by the member of a wrong caste, it brings bad luck and even death.

It is believed that Alexander the Great brought the first diamonds to Europe from India in 327 BC, instigating the expansion of trade routes between Europe and the East.
Important role of diamond in ancient India

Polygamy in Mormon Church

Mormon fundamentalists are those who subscribe to a brand of Mormon theology founded by Joseph Smith that includes traditional gender roles, and religious communalism.

An early innovation by Joseph Smith was the practice of plural marriage or polygamy – a man marrying more than one wife.

Although many mainstream Mormons seek to distance themselves from the practice, polygamy first arose in the Mormon context in 1831 when Joseph Smith Jr., founder of the Mormon Church, also known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, claimed to have a revelation that it was his duty to restore plural marriage to the earth.

The practice was partially motivated and legitimated by the polygamy practiced by some of the patriarchs of the Old Testament, Joseph Smith recognized the strong opposition of the American community, including most Mormons, to polygamy and tried to keep the practice of plural marriage secret and limited it to himself and his close associates.

Polygamy was introduced privately among a few Mormons before the death of Joseph Smith in 1844, but it was not publicly acknowledge until 1852. At this time polygamy was susceptible to political, economic and religious trends in Utah and in the nation at large.

According to Mormon polygamy it was more than populating – more precisely it was shaping a population into a new religious culture. The presence of polygamy verified the Mormon’s unusual purpose - they were building the kingdom of God on earth.

The cultural objections to Mormonism that formed the sources for tension between Mormonism and American culture in respect to polygamy were varied. Some focused on the damage that the practice did to women, and others focused on the physiological impact on polygamy on children born of those unions.
Polygamy in Mormon Church

Society of Sumerian in Mesopotamian: Death of Kings

Society of Sumerian in Mesopotamian: Death of Kings
When a king of the Sumerian city state of Ur died he did not go alone to his tomb. His entire household of some 70 people was buried with him, having taken poison in order to follow their sovereign into the next life – where they would continue to serve him loyally as before. The preparation for this mass burial was meticulous. First along, sloping shaft was dug down to a pit that would serve as the tomb chamber. This was filled with rich offerings, and the king’s corpse was placed in it. The chamber was then sealed, and a great procession of attendants moves down into the shaft. These included court ladies in resplendent golden headdresses, guard with sheathed daggers, musicians strumming bulls’ head lyres, grooms with ox-drawn chariots, and soldiers wearing coppers spears.

All carried small cup from which they drank a lethal drug before lying down by the tomb chamber to prepare for the eternity. The musicians continued to play their lyres until the end, when they took poison and succumbed. The shaft was then filled in with several layers of earth and clay, amid further ritual offerings and libations. The lack of resistance on the part of the attendants indicated a fatalistic obedience both of their sovereign and to their gods. Certainly all the evidences suggest that religion was very importance to the Sumerians. They believe that gods ruled the earth and that men were created to be their servants. Each city was regarded as belonging to a particular god and goddess, whose earthly home was the city’s temple, the scene of elaborate rituals conducted by a hierarchy priests.
Society of Sumerian in Mesopotamian: Death of Kings