Final answer:
Monotheism is the belief in a single deity, central to religions such as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, which distinguishes them from polytheistic and pantheistic belief systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
The belief that there is only one God and all other gods are works of human hands is known as monotheism. This term describes the doctrine or belief that there is only one deity. This concept is central to the major religious traditions of the West, such as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The transition from henotheism (believing in the existence of multiple gods but worshiping only one) to monotheism in the Hebrew tradition marked the emergence of the idea of a single all-powerful, all-knowing deity.
Consequently, the development of these religions introduced strict doctrines and ethical principles focusing on monotheistic belief, differentiating them from other forms of worship and belief systems like polytheism (belief in multiple gods) and pantheism (the belief in one god existing in all of creation).
However, each of these monotheistic religions holds unique conceptions of God, which can lead to philosophical challenges, such as the problem of evil and the question of accurate deity representation amongst competing religious viewpoints.