In basic religious studies, the belief in only one God is called by which of the following terms?

Introduction / Context:
Beliefs about how many gods exist are a core topic in basic religious studies and general knowledge. Many competitive exams test whether candidates know the correct technical term for belief in a single, all powerful deity. Understanding this term also helps you differentiate between major world religions and their theological positions. This question asks you to identify the correct label for the belief that there is only one God, and to distinguish it from other common belief systems that involve multiple gods or no god at all.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question refers to belief in only one God.
• No specific religion is mentioned, so the term must be a general theological concept.
• Options include terms that describe different types of religious belief systems.
• You are expected to know standard terminology used in basic religious studies and general knowledge books.

Concept / Approach:
The key concept here is the number of deities believed to exist. Belief in one God, many gods, or no god at all each has a specific term. The approach is to match the definition in the question with the correct technical word. The term for belief in one God is widely used in discussions of major Abrahamic religions such as Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Other options describe belief in many gods or total disbelief in any deity, so the strategy is elimination based on accurate definitions of each term.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Read the stem carefully and note the phrase “belief in only one God”. This phrase is the central clue. Step 2: Recall the standard terms: monotheism, polytheism, pantheism, and atheism. Each describes a different stance about deities. Step 3: Monotheism is defined as the belief that there is only one God who is usually seen as supreme and unique. Step 4: Polytheism is belief in many gods, so it does not match “only one God”. Step 5: Pantheism is the belief that God and the universe are identical, or that everything collectively is divine, which is not the same as belief in a single separate deity. Step 6: Atheism is the belief that there is no God at all, which is the complete opposite of the given definition. Step 7: Therefore the only option that exactly matches “belief in only one God” is Monotheism.

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick verification method is to break the word into parts. The prefix “mono” means “one” and the root “theos” means “god” in Greek. So monotheism literally means “belief in one god”. In contrast, “poly” means “many”, so polytheism literally means “belief in many gods”. This etymology confirms that monotheism must be the correct choice. You can also check your school level social studies or religious studies notes where monotheistic religions are clearly defined as religions that believe in one God.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Polytheism: This refers to belief in many gods or deities, which contradicts the “only one God” condition, so it is not correct.
Pantheism: This is the belief that the divine is identical with the universe or that everything collectively is God, and it does not focus on a single separate personal deity, so it does not match the question.
Atheism: This is the position that no gods exist at all, which is the exact opposite of belief in one God, so it is clearly wrong here.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is confusing monotheism with polytheism because the words look similar. Candidates may rush and choose the wrong option without carefully noticing the prefixes “mono” and “poly”. Another pitfall is misinterpreting pantheism as belief in one universal God when it actually emphasises that everything is divine, not that there is a single separate deity. Some learners also mix up atheism and monotheism because they focus only on religious versus non religious belief and ignore the exact wording about “one God”. Reading the entire question slowly helps to avoid these misinterpretations.

Final Answer:
The belief in only one God is called Monotheism.