Sanatan Dharma (later called Hinduism). it should be older than 10000 BCE. Many of the dhyanis (meditators) of hinduism, jainism & budhism are from this sanatana dharma lineage. Starting with Rishabdev to Mahavira & Budha. no other religion has such rich history & tradition as sanatana dharma.
Dates will be disputed, but one thing is sure that the journey of human conscious cannot be limited to a few thousand years as mentioned in the books of semetic religions. if tomorrow someone says its a hundred thousand years old; yes that is the truth. mankind is as old as that time or even more.
if anyone read through the old epics of sanatana dharma, one might come across great sages, seers, rishis who did Tapas (penance) for thousands of years. if that is true, then a hundred thousand years is believable.
indian consciousness has evolved over years ; it has been perfected over millennias by people who devoted thier life in search of truth and ultimate reality. no other religion has such a tradition. there are no prophets. so there are no prophecies or future predictions. yes, there are some certain indications where it is mentioned that there will be certain turmoil in human society. but that is not an end of the world, but will lead to change in the whole outlook, to a better place for ourselves.
unlike semetic religions, which has a fixed book (called the word of god), prophets and judgement days, sanatana dharma is not concerned with these mundane things. it is about one lives like human being with fellow beings.
In my view Sanatana dharma (one may call it Hinduism) is the oldest religion. there is no other.
2006-11-09 00:38:22
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answer #1
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answered by Raja Krsnan 3
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Much depends on your definition of religion. If you're talking about a spiritual practice, the oldest non-thriving religion would be that of the early humans throughout the world, including the early cultures of Northern Europe. While it's in question as to whether or not you could or would qualify it as religion, it's undoubtably "worship" of a sort. Pantheistic worship was done far beyond "single" god worship - of which Hinduism is one as are many others. Of those that turned INTO an organized religion, it's believed that Zoastrianism is the oldest but it is closely linked to Hinduism.
Contrary to much fundamentalist belief (of any religion), Judism, Christianity, and Islam are no where near the oldest relgions.
2006-11-06 17:30:36
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answer #2
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answered by thedarkduchess 2
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It is debateable issue. There have been several theories and schools of thought who consider different religions to be the oldest. Witchcraft, Zoroastrianism, Hindu, etc. But in my opinion the oldest "organised religion" is the Hindu religion.
2006-11-06 17:35:04
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answer #3
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answered by rash 2
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No way to tell for sure, since the very first religions may have died out by now. But I would bet that the original religions--those dating back to when Man first walked upright and began to use fire and make crude tools--were very similar to the Native American religions, i.e. they consisted of praying to many different Gods (polytheism) that were nature based. For example: rain God, fire god, Sun God, etc. This type of religion that reveres nature is also referred to as Pantheism.
This type of religion by far outdates Hinduism and Zorastanism, by the way! You people forget that mankind has been around for half a million years, so a few thousand years back is a drop in the bucket!!
2006-11-06 17:13:58
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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I guess that depends on your take of the beginnings of man. Personally I believe the literal creation account in Genesis, and since it says God walked with them and talked with them (Adam and Eve) and the rest of the Bible is God's story of redemption then I would have to go with that but obviously it didn't start as a "religion," not until God handed out the Mosaic Law. Plenty of "religions" started up not too long after the flood...mankind has a very short memory when it comes to the things God has done for us....
2006-11-06 17:25:51
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answer #5
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answered by prismcat38 4
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All Vedic Religions. Krishna Consciousness is from the original Vedic Knowledge which was Given at the time of Creation. Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada came to the west in 1965 to spread the ancient Vedic Knowledge to the western world. The Bhagavad Gita(Song of God) is over 5,000 years old and Prabhupada is an unbroken chain of pure diciplic succession, which Lord Krishna said it had to be taken from. The Gita is the only scripture spoken directly by God Himself all others where through someone else like a disciple. Go to hhtp://www.stephen-knapp.com for more information on Vedic knowledge and universal truths
2006-11-06 17:11:50
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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Hinduism is generally considered to be the oldest religion still being practiced today. This ancient religion was born when the Aryan peoples migrated to Northern India and first put their religious tradition into writing. The texts they created are the Vedas, which were written around 1,500 B.C.E. (before common era) and have greatly influenced Indian culture ever since.
Several other religions are almost as old as Hinduism. Judaism traces its roots back to the patriarch Abraham, who lived around 1,800 B.C.E. While the Jewish people are descended from Abraham, it was Moses who first recorded the Torah, the Jewish holy text, in 1,400 B.C.E. Most sources consider the date of the Torah as the beginning of Judaism.
Zoroastrianism is sometimes called the world's oldest prophetic religion. It's certainly one of the earliest religions founded by one person. Scholars are not certain when the founding prophet Zarathustra actually lived. Some believe Zarathustra lived in the 6th century B.C.E., while others trace his writings to the 14th or 13th centuries B.C.E.
India has been a veritable cradle for world religions -- in addition to Hinduism, both Jainism and Buddhism originated in India. The first of Jainism's sacred lords, called a Tirthankara, lived in the 8th century B.C.E. The last of these lords was Mahavir, who lived in the 5th century B.C.E. and was a key figure in spreading the religion. The philosophical teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha, spread around Asia after his death in 483 B.C.E.
Oddly enough, the two religions that dominate the world today are relative newcomers to the spiritual scene. Christianity began with the teachings of Jesus Christ around 30 C.E., and Islam started in 610 C.E. with the prophet Muhammad's revelation.
2006-11-06 17:09:00
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answer #7
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answered by Rogue Scrapbooker 6
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Hinduism.It is more than 5000 years old.It is spreaded not only in India..but over china,japan,indonasia etc.
The most ancient book ever found are Vedas,which are the Foundation of Hindu customs.You can find manything explained in Vedas scientifically.
Eg: They say the Earth is in Global shape(Bhu-Gola)-(not by Magellan as we learnt) and in Sathyarthaprakasha it explains the gravitational force of Earth and says it is a "Greha"( which rotates).It says Earth rotates the Sun in a particular period and it repeats.They say there are NAVAGREHAS(nine planets) around the sun before anybody see telescope!!They explains the movements of planets and stars and it is science Jyothisha in it.
They have done many surgeries and has a traditional treatment system which is still practiced-AYURVEDA.
In Ramayana it explains about several kinds of Aeroplanes.One among them is faster than sound!!
In Mahabharat it explains the production of 100 children(KOURAVAS) in a method similar to Test tube babies.
2006-11-06 17:29:32
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answer #8
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answered by SREE 2
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Hinduism is the oldest religion still practised in general.
it has been practised times immemorial as the evidences from Vedas. hence Hinduism became a way of life for human welfare.
there are evidences that it Hinduism spread from in Bharatha khadham in epics like maha bharatha, spread over from Afghanistan to Indonesia..
2006-11-07 03:48:19
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answer #9
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answered by prince47 7
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Worship of Jehovah God was initially practiced in Eden by Adam and Eve, thus making it the oldest religion and first among all.
2006-11-06 17:21:42
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answer #10
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answered by Anonymous
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