Which was the "correct" religion before Christianity came along, some 2000 or so years ago?

Question

Was it "Judaism," since they are believed to be the first to worship God (the God of Abraham) .

But then what was the "correct" religion before God revealed himself to Abraham, who is believed to be the first monotheist?

Please see responses to my previous question at:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20060725134154AARHK4a&r=w

bc_monkey: notice the quotes around "correct"; not my words, but quoting from another.

Danielle_S: Kudos for "The first monotheist is supposed to have been the Egyptian pharoah Akenaton, in whose priesthood Moses served." I didn't mention this because a) are most people familiar with the reign of Akhenaton and b) did this come before or after the time of Abraham?

Folks: Please don't be offended - I am not making claim to a correct religion!

"Correct" is in quotes a) because I am quoting someone else's claim re: Christianty and b) they are called "scare quotes" bececause they are, by definition, used for purposes other than to identify a direct quotation, such as for emphasis or irony. In this literary strategy, the effect of using scare quotes often is similar to inserting so-called to modify a word.

My understanding is that the book of Job was writting during the Babylonian Captivity, so please explain: how it is the oldest book of the Bible?

Answer 1

correct? that's funny...

Answer 2

The Egyptians were the first to worship one god. Moses was an Egyptian priest who brought monotheism to the Jews. Jewish people at that time were worshiping a hierarchy or gods, including Ba'al and Jehovah -- and golden calves, such as the one the bible says they constructed while Moses was doing business with the burning bush. Contrary to the opinions of some answerers here (e.g. ellieannah), Jews historically worshiped a multitude of gods until the time of Moses.

It's also a historical fact that Genesis was written much later than the bulk of the OT. The creation story, etc., was more or less an afterthought. The OT books are not arranged in the order they were written.

The Jews modified the monotheistic religion of Moses to make themselves the chosen ones with carte blanche to seize land and property from their enemies.

The first monotheist is supposed to have been the Egyptian Pharaoh Akenaton, in whose priesthood Moses served.

No religion yet has been the correct one, which is obvious from the state of the world throughout history.

Answer 3

The whole point of the bible is outlineing God's relationship with man from the begining of time. Using the term religion makes this question very difficult to answer, I think you were quoting somebody before.

Prior to Jewish law God did not have very many rules for man. Those who recognized God's existance and his power and authority and respected it were the ones living "right" or at least as close to right as possible.


Noah is an example of such a person, there weren't many before Jewish law, I think that's why God came up with the whole Jewish plan ( but then again who am I to guess what God was thinking)

Answer 4

Adam and Eve knew God before a Book was published. They needed no Book at the time for God was so real to them.
They taught their children the Truth of what happened to them in the Garden of Eden,
and so the "Bible" was passed on word for word to the generations that followed Adam and Eve UNTIL God called Abraham out of the land of Ur and Abraham then became the father of Isaac who in turn was the father of Jacob whose name was changed to Israel, who was the father of the 12 Tribes of Israel.

Many Books of the Old Testament were written during different ages, Job being the oldest...but all pertaining to the Thoughts of God revealed
in Word form, called the Old Testament, which is also called Judaism.

When Jesus came, the New Testament was Spoken and written out. But the Old and New Testament are the same Book, just written in two groups.

Answer 5

It was whatever religion the state mandated. Emperor worship as in the case of Rome. Failing to worship the emperor was punishable by death (it was treason).
The first monothiestic religion was Zoroastrianism which came about 660 before Christ's birth, 47 years after Abraham (who didn't start out a monothiest).
Keep in mind one pharoah declared himself a monotheist (although I can't remember if he decided he was the god or not) and was killed for such a heretical idea.

Answer 6

Now this is a good question: In the beginning, there was a set of laws or instructions given to Adam, which he in turn taught his sons, which Cain ignored and disobeyed with the murder of his brother....but Seth learned the Correct Religion and taught his son, and that teaching was learned by Noach. Fortunately for all of us, Noach, or Noah, was a righteous man of that generation, so we could surmise that since he and his family were the sole survivors, that their religion was the Correct one. That gives us a good lead, to understand what the Correct religion might be for everyone: The Torah, describes the Laws which Noach received and we suppose taught his sons, but according to the history of Torah, Shem was the recipient of favor because of his honor to his Father Noach, which Ham abused, and Japeth also received favor. However, the conviction of the Rightness of The Noach Laws, was soon ignored and forgotten by the majority of the descendents of the sons of Noach. The Laws that would make up the Correct Religion, could be as described in Torah for Gentiles,,,as the Noach Laws or Instructions; WOrship ONE God, Not to Blaspheme the One GOD, by worshipping any created thing, living or otherwise, and not to worship stars or any other celestial thing, including Angels, and certainly this included the prohibition against worshipping a man, any man, all men as they are all created beings. Additional laws were prohibition against Murder, Theft, Adultery, and cruelty to animals and the positive law for establishing courts of justice. This is still the law of Noachide, and applies to all Gentiles. Most people recoqnize that the Jews received 603 additional laws or instructions which included the same basic laws of Noach, so,,,I would say, the Laws of Noach make the correct original religion for everyone. Sincerely

Answer 7

There is NO correct religion and never has been. Your question is mute. It's better to ask which if any has fewer theological inconsistencies or flaws? Your answer would be the one you provided...The Jews. FYI the Muslims are also from the house of Ibrahim (Peace & Good Will be Upon Him)...so I'd suggest you research further before asking such general questions with such specific terminology ("correct"). PEACE!

Answer 8

I believe that Adam & Eve had a relationship with God, as did others up to and including Noah and ultimately Abraham. There have always been those who followed God since the begining in Eden. By the same token there have always been those who follow pagan gods. This practice is unchanged from the beginning of humanity until today. God has always been God and His followers have always known Him; others have never followed Him.

Answer 9

In Christian belief it was the Jews that had a covenant with God so they would be the "correct" religion as far as Christians are concerned. I believe they were the first monotheistic religion. Pretty much up until that time, as far as I was taught, the other religions were polytheistic. I could be wrong but that's what I was taught in Catholic school back in the 50's.

Answer 10

Religion, what is that? People recognized the living God, respected him and tried to do his bidding. They had a personal relationship. The same as now.

Do you think it will be all Catholics to the right all Jews to the left.

You stand alone, unless you have an advocate to stand in your stead. For all have sinned and and fall short of the glory of God . The wages of sin is death. Joining a religion doesn't change that.


Where do you stand with God?

Answer 11

Sorry you make think your cute but if you study, long before Moses' covenant in Exodus, God had a covenant with Abraham (who was Hammurabi's contemporary). Before that he had a covenant with Noah. Before that he had one with Adam. I think that takes us right back to the beginning.
God is the same today, and yesterday.
Judaism has always been correct, Christianity is just a Jewish sect.