Why isn't Christianity/Judaism the oldest religions if they are fact?

Question

You would think that if it was factual that it would be the first religion of humanity wouldn't you?

Answer 1

Shamanism predates them by thousands of years!

Answer 2

Because the doctrine for both was not first written until after 1500BC.

Chrisitianity is bascially a reformed sect of Judaism focused on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth (~30AD), believing He is the prophet, priest, and king prophesied in the Old Testament.

Ancient Judaism was based on the Law, that which was given directly to the Israelites from God or through Moses (~1400BC). The original Book of the Law no longer exists, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy cite specific laws but are historical books documenting the events of the Israelites until Joshua was appointed as Moses' successor.

Modern Judaism is founded primarily on the Torah, modern Jews claim that this is the Book of the Law and was written by Moses. However, the Old Testament itself and history clearly show otherwise. The first five books of the bible may have been partially written by Moses, but all of them were clearly transcribed from other texts citing only that which was established as the inspired word of God by scribes most likely during the time of Ezra/Nehemiah (~500BC) or Maccabes (~200BC). Modern Judaism also uses the Prophets as doctrine but is second to that of the Torah.

The earlier religion was not established until the time of Moses, which came appx. 500 years after the time of Jacob/Israel, which came long after Noah and the Flood, which came at least 1000 years after the creation of Adam and Eve.

The earliest false religion, not following God, was certainly Skepticism. Eve was skeptical of the statement God had spoken about the tree when she ate of the fruit because she was deceived by the serpent, regardless God stayed true to His words and Eve certainly did die. In the meantime the period before the Flood led to much the same false religions as today. Occulticism, Spiritualism, Polytheism, etc. These religions are simple in nature becuase they support scientific reasoning and/or salvation by sanctification (rewarded for good works/merit). Judaism and Chrisitanity are faith built religions, those who have faith that the words of the Law, Prophets, and Gospel are true and follow them can be saved according to the testaments of God.

Answer 3

You might want to interpret the Bible as saying the Jesus was there with God or as God from the beginning stories. It should be easy to figure out by the language the the oldest religious stories are written. I've heard of the story of Gilgamesh, maybe written in cuneiform and obviously dated well before any Hebrew translations of the books of Moses. The outline of the story of Gilgamesh will be in Wikipedia.
Having reread your question I think that maybe I'm not answering in the spirit of your question. I would think that christians/jews would take great pride in the 'obvious fact' that theirs would be the first religion simply defining it as such and thereby precluding any and all arguments against the idea. I think that they would be inclined to feel, "How could it not be?" and leave it at that.

Answer 4

How old do you want?
How about all the way back to Adam and Eve?
How about eternity past?
Of course there are "old religions!"

Proverbs 14:12
There is a way which seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.

They seem good and right, but remember that people are impacted by the Fall, what we think is right is actually twisted. That's because we're sinners:
Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Oops, that you & me too. That's the Pope, that's every Immam in the whole world, but specifically it's YOU and ME.

Fortunately Jesus gave us the way out.

Matthew 4:17
From that time Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

So, do you want an old faith? Or do you want the true faith? Remember that your thinking may not be clear, and you need to depend on God's revealed plan of salvation.

Eph. 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; [9] not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Galatians 1:3
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,

Answer 5

Yes it is!

The oldest portion of the Bible predates all of the world’s other religious writings. The Torah, or first five books of the Bible, the Law written under inspiration by Moses, dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries B.C.E. By comparison, the Hindu writings of the Rig-Veda (a collection of hymns) were completed about 900 B.C.E. and do not claim divine inspiration. The Buddhist “Canon of the Three Baskets” dates back to the fifth century B.C.E. The Qur’ān, claimed to have been transmitted from God through the angel Gabriel, is a product of the seventh century C.E. The Book of Mormon, reportedly given to Joseph Smith in the United States by an angel called Moroni, is a product of the 19th century.

Answer 6

There are far older religions out there than Christianity. Like ancient greek and roman. There are many others but those two are the ones that people would be most familiar with.

I think people just like to deny facts. They would prefer to think of Christianity as the first, even though they're blatantly wrong.

Answer 7

Let's try the religions of the Greeks and Romans? The Egyptians go back to over 3000-4000 years before Christ. And the people that constructed places like Stonehedge.

Answer 8

Christianity didn't start until in the 30's AD

Judaism didn't start until the time of Jacob (Israel).

But earlier Abraham worshipped the one God, Creator of Heaven and Earth. Likewise, Noah worshipped that same God. As did Methuselah, as did Enoch, etc.

Of course modern secular humanists assign dates to the pagan religions of the world. Those dates most likely are based on evolutionary theories.

Likewise, how do people determine the age of fossils? Well, according to the rocks they fossils are found it. What are the age of those rocks? Well, the age of the rocks is determined by the fossils they contain.

Be careful of how dates are determined.

Answer 9

Judaism could only start after the Jews became a nation. Juda was not the first of the patriarchs. Many believer such as Abraham proceeded him by may hundreds of years.... Jim

Answer 10

No, Judaism had its beginnings about 2100 B.C. with Abraham. The flood had been over about 400 years. Thats plenty of time for someone to rebell against God and start a new religion.
Christianity did not come onto the scene for another 2100 years.

Answer 11

The oldest form of religion is animism which is Pagan. We all know Christianity is not facts.