For James, the big question is, how do we explain the emergence of monotheism?

So, let's give him an answer. How monotheism?

Social evolution

• A long-held theory is that religion began polytheistic and evolved into monotheism (recall Durkheim, and even Otto).
• Monotheism is seen as the more "civilized" and philosophically complex religion (over polytheistic traditions).
• But this reflects a modernist view (and a Eurocentric one).

Counterarguments

• James maintains that concepts of mana (cf. Codrington, and later Durkheim) and mysterium tremendum (Otto) do not completely explain the why and the how of monotheism.
• Mana, he maintains, is dependent upon the "beginning of a notion of something transcendent."
• Mysterium tremendum, while on the right track, doesn't clearly explain mono-theism.

A sense of wonder is the primary impulse of religion.

Early conceptions of deities were attempts to define and categorize the sense of awe inherent within human beings and their social groups.

James describes the singular focus of that awe as an All-Father.

These All-Fathers clearly were not just glorified human souls or departmental spirits, since they were represented as having existed before death entered the world, and still exist in the sky, where they dwell in remote seclusion, usually disinterested in human affairs. Sometimes they are thought to have lived at one time on earth ...

• James maintains that most (if not every) community has some sense of an All-Father belief.
• But sometimes the singular ideal is obscured by its remoteness.
• Remoteness may encourage the pursuit of something in closer proximity (which would manifest for some as naturism, animism, totemism, etc.).

Primeval revelation

James states that theories of a "primeval revelation" (such as by Schmidt) fail due to lack of evidence.

[T]here is no possible means of ascertaining scientifically the original beliefs of mankind about anything. (James)

The theory of primeval revelation raises more problems than it solves, for James. And it goes well beyond any sociological or anthropological evidence.

Early monotheism?

• "It is no longer possible to maintain the former distinction between what used to be regarded as 'natural' and 'revealed' religion." (James).
• Monotheism should be regarded as a psychological tendency rather than a stage in an evolutionary system.
• This permits James to retain the possibility of a divine cause but also explain religion in terms of cultural production. To note,

[T]he function of a Supreme Creator must be limited by the creative outlook of almost culture less tribes for whom the problems of causation have little or no meaning. (James)

• The "high gods of low races" are "essentially magnified non-natural men." (James)
• In many cases, they are associated as or with archetypical ancestors.

The All-Father belief seems to represent the purposive functioning of an inherent type of thought and emotion rather than an elaboration of a certain kind of knowledge concerning the universe. (James)

It is driven by a desire to identify and name the "awful and mysterious power" at the basis of what we perceive to be as the order of the world.