God Against the Gods: How Monotheism Was Born w/ Dr Michael Hundley

What did the ancient world really believe about the gods? And how did humanity move from countless divine beings to the bold claim that there is only one God?

In this episode of The Dig In Podcast, Pastor Johnny Ova sits down with Dr. Michael Hundley, professor of Religious Studies at the University of Memphis and Ph.D. graduate of the University of Cambridge. Dr. Hundley’s research focuses on the intersection of the human and the divine in the Hebrew Bible and the ancient Near East. He has taught at Georgetown, Syracuse, and other universities, and is the author of several books exploring how ancient cultures understood gods, divine councils, and the rise of monotheism.

Together they unpack:

• The religious landscape of the ancient Near East before Israel
• Why Israel’s God stood apart in a world full of competing deities
• The role of wars, exile, and empire in shaping faith and exclusivity
• How angels, demons, and divine councils fit into the bigger picture
• Why monotheism still influences culture, morality, and identity today

This conversation will change the way you think about the Bible, ancient faith, and the story of how one God came to stand against the gods.

Grab Johnny’s book: The Revelation Reset — a fresh, scripture-rich look at the Book of Revelation and why it matters

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, or watch on YouTube.

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome
• 0:42 The Ancient World of Many Gods
• 2:36 How Belief in Gods Emerged (Agency Detection & Theory of Mind)
• 6:46 Reinforcement, Rituals, and the Human Need for Control
• 7:42 Israel’s God and the Ancient Near East
• 9:45 Divine Beings: Angels, Cherubim, and the Problem of Labels
• 14:04 From Many Gods to One God: Defining Monolatry
• 15:57 The Divine Council Explained
• 17:42 From Polytheism to Monotheism: Was It Gradual?
• 19:18 Marduk, Baal, and the Competition for Worship
• 22:39 Exclusivity, Power, and the Rise of Yahweh
• 24:17 Early Christianity, Rome, and the Clash Over Worship
• 25:23 Minor Gods, Angels, and the Reframing of the Supernatural
• 32:35 Foreign Gods, Demons, and the Birth of Fallen Angels
• 34:29 The Problem of Evil Under One God
• 35:25 Suffering, Punishment, and the Hope of Redemption
• 39:12 Evangelism and Why Monotheism Changed the Game
• 41:28 Monotheism: Theology or Survival?
• 43:27 Jewish Belief in the First Century
• 45:15 Gentiles, Jews, and the Early Christian Debate
• 46:38 How Monotheism Shaped Faith, Morality, and Identity
• 48:37 Clearing Up Misconceptions About Israel’s Faith
• 50:27 Dr. Hundley’s Work and Upcoming Book Projects