What was the earliest religion?

Answer 1

Elaborate cave art was produced in Europe up to 30,000 years ago. By studying the art itself and the placement in the cave, archaeologists can often come to an informed opinion as to its purpose. Some of the art appears to have been of religious origin, providing early evidence of religious activity. In some cases, fossils of early man have also been found ritually buried, providing further evidence of religious activity. This evidence is described in some detail by Richard Leakey in The Origin of Humankind (1994). Animism would probably be the oldest type of religion. In animism, spirits are considered to inhabit familiar objects in the landscape. Gradually, spirits began to take on the form and power of gods and shamans provided a formal link with the gods.

Answer 2

This conversation could go on and on -- there's no real answer to this question, since the word religion means 'world view' and there were organized world views -- religions -- before people kept records. Some opinions follow:

A:

Earlest "evidence" indicates a 70,000 year old African Boswanna stone craving in a cave of worshiping a "snake God".....

A:Wise Geek, however, claims that Hinduism is the oldest.

A:Jainism is one of the oldest religions of world. It believes in a universe without beginning, without end and without creator. Rishabhdev, the first Tirthankar, is mentioned in Rig Veda, the oldest scripture of Hinduism believed to be at least 5000 years old. The last of the 24 Tirthankars of this cycle of time was Lord Mahavira. Jainism became prominent religion in India at the time of Mahavira, who was born in about 599 B.C. in the town of Vyshali , (in the present day Bihar) in a royal family.

A:

Paganism.

A:According to The Bible, the oldest religion on earth would be: -- direct 'worship/obedience/devotion' to Jehovah God, the Creator or mankind. This religion was not given a formal name. It didn't need one. When Adam was in the Garden of Eden he worshiped Jehovah God. When his wife Eve was created, Adam became a witness of Jehovah to Eve. He would have told Eve about his Creation and about Jehovah; and about Jehovah's requirements. That's all they needed.

But before too long, they both changed religions. Satan offered them something and made it seem it was better than what Jehovah had given them. They allowed themselves to be easily deceived, without seeing Jehovah first about Satan's allegations. Thus the second oldest religion was started. It also had no formal name. It would we the 'worship / devotion / obedience' to Satan, the adversary of Jehovah God. All different religions after that; that may have splintered off, would fall into just those two main catagories.

A:Animism

Answer 3

Archaeology has shown that no ancient society ever existed that did not believe in the supernatural.

Based upon a massive worldwide study of the most ancient inscriptions and the earliest levels of civilization, Dr. Wilhelm Schmidt (in his twelve-volume Der Ursprung Der Gottesidee) concluded that the original belief was monotheistic1. It was a simple belief in the Creator (Sky-Father) with no imagery of any kind. It gave way relatively quickly to polytheism and idolatry, but its traces could still be seen by the careful researcher, just as (for example) Proto-Indo European has left indelible marks within the later languages. Other traditions also are traceable worldwide, such as the religious significance of the number seven, and the immortality of the soul.

Footnote (1): 1) Albright, "From the Stone Age," p.170; and J.A. Wilson, "The Culture of ancient Egypt," p.129.

Also Baron, "A Social and Religious History," vol. I, p.44 and 311.

Also James Meek, "Hebrew Origins," p.188, quoting Langdon, Lagrange and John Ross.

Also Martin Nilsson, Handbuch der Altertumswissenschaften, 2nd ed., p.61, 141, 220 and 394.

Answer 4

One thing that researchers agree upon is that mankind has always believed in a Higher Power. Archaeology has shown that no ancient society ever existed that did not believe in the supernatural.

Based upon a massive worldwide study of the most ancient inscriptions and the earliest levels of civilization, Dr. Wilhelm Schmidt (in his twelve-volume Der Ursprung Der Gottesidee) concluded that the original belief was monotheistic1. It was a simple belief in the Creator (Sky-Father) with no imagery of any kind. It gave way relatively quickly to polytheism and idolatry, but its traces could still be seen by the careful researcher, just as (for example) Proto-Indo European has left indelible marks within the later languages. Other traditions also are traceable worldwide, such as the religious significance of the number seven, and the immortality of the soul.

The process by which the awareness of One God gave way to a belief in many gods, has been described by Scandinavian researchers2 as splitting ("Gottespaltung"): the people gradually viewed God's attributes of truth, righteousness, fertility etc., as separate from Him, and afterwards personified and worshiped the attributes themselves, until God was largely forgotten.

Maimonides3 describes a comparable process (which probably happened alongside the aforementioned one), as follows:

A couple of centuries after the Creation, mankind made a great mistake: They said that since God had created the stars and spheres and placed them on high, accordingly it is fitting for people to praise and glorify them and to treat them with honor. They perceived this to be the will of God, that people should magnify and honor the stars. They began to praise and glorify them with words, and prostrate themselves before them, because by doing so, they would - according to their false conception - be indirectly honoring God too. Notes: 1) Albright, "From the Stone Age," p.170; and J.A. Wilson, "The Culture of Ancient Egypt," p.129.

Also Baron, "A Social and Religious History," vol. I, p.44 and 311.

Also James Meek, "Hebrew Origins," p.188, quoting Langdon, Lagrange and John Ross.

Also Martin Nilsson, Handbuch der Altertumswissenschaften, 2nd ed., p.61, 141, 220 and 394.

2) G. W. Anderson, in "The Old Testament and Modern Study," p.287.

Also Friedrich Baethgen, in Beitraege zur Semitischen Religionsgeschichte, p.288.

Also Pallotino, "The Etruscans," p. 158 and 167.

3) Maimonides' Mishneh Torah (Hilchot Avodat Kochavim ch.1).

Answer 5

The entire ancient world possessed the original traditions of the Creation, the existence of the human soul and the afterlife, etc.

One thing that researchers agree upon is that mankind has always believed in a Higher Power. Archaeology has shown that no ancient society ever existed that did not believe in the supernatural.Link: Can you show me that God exists?Based upon a massive worldwide study of the most ancient inscriptions and the earliest levels of civilization, Dr. Wilhelm Schmidt (in his twelve-volume Der Ursprung Der Gottesidee) concluded that the original belief was monotheistic; a belief in One God (see footnote 1, below). It was a simple belief in the Creator (Dyeus Pater; Sky-Father) with no imagery of any kind. It gave way relatively quickly to polytheism and idolatry, but its traces could still be seen by the careful researcher, just as (for example) Proto-Indo European has left indelible marks within the later languages. Other traditions also are traceable worldwide, such as the religious significance of the number seven, and the immortality of the soul.

The process by which the awareness of One God gave way to a belief in many gods, has been described by Scandinavian researchers (see footnote 2) as splitting ("Gottespaltung"): the people gradually viewed God's attributes of truth, righteousness, fertility etc., as separate from Him, and afterwards personified and worshiped the attributes themselves, until God was largely forgotten.

According to Jewish tradition also, (Rashi commentary, Genesis 4:26), monotheism is more ancient than polytheism. Maimonides describes the process by which polytheism began: "A couple of centuries after the Creation, mankind made a great mistake. They said that since God had created the stars and spheres and placed them on high, accordingly it is fitting for people to praise and glorify them and to treat them with honor. They perceived this to be the will of God, that people should exalt and honor the stars. They began to praise and glorify them with words, and prostrate themselves before them, because by doing so, they would (according to their false conception) be indirectly honoring God too."

This descent into polytheism contributed to the gradual weakening of any sense of religious belief and was also used as justification for excessive and licentious behavior, since the caprices which were narrated concerning the idols were adopted as an excuse to imitate their putative actions.

The original belief is what Abraham reinstated through his teaching of ethical monotheism.

See also the other Related Links.

Link: Abraham's monotheism

Link: The full quote from Maimonides

Footnotes:

1) Albright, "From the Stone Age," p.170; and J.A. Wilson, "The Culture of Ancient Egypt," p.129. Also Baron, "A Social and Religious History," vol. I, p.44 and 311. Also James Meek, "Hebrew Origins," p.188, quoting Langdon, Lagrange and John Ross. Also Martin Nilsson, Handbuch der Altertumswissenschaften, 2nd ed., p.61, 141, 220 and 394.

2) G. W. Anderson, in "The Old Testament and Modern Study," p.287. Also Friedrich Baethgen, in Beitraege zur Semitischen Religionsgeschichte, p.288. Also Pallotino, "The Etruscans," p. 158 and 167.