The Third Virtue in the Doctrine of Monotheism is the Abandonment of the Worship of Nothingness
The doctrine of monotheism calls for absolute and total distancing from paganism, polytheism, and idol worship. This belief prevailed in the past, where many believed in the powers of nature, celestial bodies, constellations, and so on, attributed divine qualities to them, and prostrated, prayed, and offered sacrifices to them. Why is distancing oneself from pagan beliefs considered such an important value in the doctrine of monotheism?
According to the Druze monotheistic religious approach, these pagan beliefs do not align with the idea of the oneness of God Almighty; on the contrary, they constitute disbelief in the existence of the One, Unique, Eternal God. Based on the teachings of the doctrine of monotheism, any belief that attributes supernatural and paranormal powers to a being other than the Divine Being is rejected in principle. Accordingly, the Druze monotheistic doctrine, like other monotheistic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), has strongly opposed paganism and idol worship, considering them completely contradictory to the principle of faith in one God.
The Monotheists' Stance on Superstitions
In addition to the virtue of abandoning the worship of nothingness, the doctrine of monotheism clearly and categorically opposes popular beliefs and superstitions prevalent in our days as well, which are not based on any logic, have no religious or scientific basis, and do not rely on facts; yet, they have taken root and dominated the minds of many. There are various types of popular beliefs and superstitions, ranging from belief in charlatans, fortune tellers, sorcerers, and diviners, to amulets, and ending with belief in jinn, demons, spirits, and ghosts. For example: In Druze folklore and Arab heritage in general, there are various figures considered to be knowledgeable of the unseen, called "fortune tellers." We see in folk tales how these fortune tellers dispense advice, prepare amulets and charms, and people attribute supernatural, paranormal powers to them, as well as extraordinary abilities to predict what will happen in the future. Popular belief in jinn, demons, devils, and spirits occupies an important place in these tales and in popular heritage in general; the demon and the devil, for instance, are frequently mentioned in daily conversations, where it is said of a mentally unstable person, "so-and-so is ridden by a demon," and a mother screams when her son stumbles and falls, saying, "May you be shamed and cursed, O Satan!"
According to the doctrine of monotheism, there is no basis for popular beliefs and superstitions in religious texts, nor are they based on any jurisprudential rule or relevant religious values, and it is forbidden for a monotheistic believer to believe in or adopt them. The doctrine of monotheism opposes and fights these popular beliefs because they may lead the monotheistic believer, who is in need of help and support, to a situation where they seek aid from powers or elements other than God, may His Majesty be glorified.
Quoted from the Monotheistic Heritage
