Where did adoption originate Like who started it?

Answer 1

There may be no solidly defined answer about who started it, but adoption and care of orphans has been a part of society for thousands of years. You can find rules regarding adoption in Hammurabi's code. Albeit, some of the laws about adoption in Hammurabi's code treat adoption more like a form of ownership of a person than an expansion of the family.

The Old Testament speaks of adoption frequently, and urges followers to care for orphans as part of their faith.

Adoption is also mentioned in the New Testament in the Gospel as well as in Acts, James and other books. "If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." -- James 1: 26-27 As you can see, there is direct reference to orphans. Some translations of this verse sound more adoption oriented than charity oriented.

The Quran also teaches followers of Islam to care for orphans, to provide for their needs and offer them shelter.

Many Native American tribes, whose records are often passed down by spoken word moreso than written record, encourage chiefs of tribes to care for the old and the orphans. An Iroquois quote says, "To adopt an orphan, and bring them up in virtuous ways, is pleasing to the Great Spirit."

I don't know when adoption first began, but I suspect that as long as children have found themselves without parents, and loving adults have found space in their hearts, adoption has been present in society. Religious texts also suggest that adoption has been present in every culture for thousands of years. I doubt it was so much an invention as an answer to a problem found everywhere. A little Google or Wikipedia searching will get your more quotes and verses from any of the above references.