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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 earliest belief was monotheistic (see footnote 1). 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 researchers (see note 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. Maimonides (see note 3) 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).
What else can I help you with?
What do cave paintings tell us about religion of early humans?
early humans worshipped animals
How do you make religion in doodle god?
Wizard + Religion = Priest
What religion did the early africans go by?
The early African religion is shamanism.
What was the religion of Paleolithic people What was the religion of the Neolithic people What was the religion of the Mesopotamian people?
there religon was nothing Answer they were likely early pagans. Worshipers of nature and living things, ghave thankgiving to nature. Or the sun. Many early humans worshipped spirits of dead ancesters. Some are believed to have followed the stars as guides etc
How did early humans make pictures?
early humans painted pictures with caves./
What caused the early humans to establish to form a government?
the early humans had established with a government because the namads had told the early humans to establishe with a government
Which according to you was a greater revolution - early humans becoming food-producers or early humans taming animals or early humans making pottery?
chamara silva
What did the early Greeks call humans?
Early (anciant) Greek called humans mortals
What do cave paintings tell us about the religions of early humans?
early humans worshipped animals
Where is a picture of what early humans wore?
Early humans wore animal skins in the cave paintings.
What did early humans use to migrate to Indonesia and Australia?
what did early humans use to migrate to Indonesia and australia
What is the religion in the south pole?
The south pole uninhibited by humans and so no religion is found there.
