Monotheism and People Control

Yes, I believe in God or perhaps more correctly I believe that there is that which we name God (as distinct from there is a God) but I think that every single human being has a different opinion of what God is or what God is like. So while people say, "I believe in God",  I'd have to ask what is that God like to you? What exactly do you believe about that God? When I hear the descriptions people make about the God they imagine or when they express their beliefs, I wonder if it is the same God that I imagine. I wonder where these beliefs came from and why people hold them so preciously especially if the person is quite dogmatic about what they believe to be the truth about God and that I must believe it if I am to have any hope of salvation.

Speaking of imagination, I sometimes wonder whether monotheism, the idea that there is only one God, has been employed as a way to control people. Dara Molloy in his book 'The Globalisation of God' says, "With the emergence of monotheism came the discovery of a new political tool by which people could be managed. That tool is what we now call dogma. Dogma is the exaltation of an opinion or hypothesis into a belief to which others must subscribe." (Molloy, Dara, 'The Globalisation of God', Co. Galway, Aisling Publications, 2009; p.46). The primary dogma being that there is only one God.

How has this one belief effected the world? How has this one belief been used by religious and political leaders in people control? More reflections on monotheism to come...