Monotheism: Evolution or Revolution
Part of the learning series, You Say You Want a Revolution: Jewish Encounters with Radical Change
With Dr. Benjamin Sommer, Professor of Bible and Ancient Semitic Languages
For many readers of the Bible, the idea of one God seems timeless and self-evident. Yet in the ancient world, Israel’s embrace of monotheism was anything but inevitable. Scholars continue to debate how and when this concept emerged.
Professor Benjamin Sommer discussed the debate among modern scholars about the origin of biblical monotheism: did this religious idea develop gradually among the ancient Israelites during the biblical period, or did it appear suddenly early in Israelite history? To what extent were the theological beliefs of the biblical authors radically innovative, and to what extent did they display continuity with the religions of the Israelites neighbors in Canaan, Babylonia, Assuria, and Egypt?
About the Series
What does revolution look like in Jewish life—spiritual, social, technological, or political? This fall, join JTS scholars for a provocative webinar series exploring transformative moments across Jewish history. From the emergence of monotheism to the Russian Revolution, from handwritten manuscripts to digital frontiers, from summer camps to the Talmud, we’ll consider how Jews have sparked, resisted, and reimagined change. Each session invites reflection on what revolution means—then and now.
