2006-11-29 07:59:03 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Most probably, but no one can say for certain.
To be clear, animism is the belief that every object has a soul or spirit, even those objects which are inanimate. Fossilized evidence suggests that early hominids practiced animism on a regular basis.
Christianity did not appear until some 5,000,000 years later. It was predated by a great many religions, including Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, and Shinto (kami worship) to name a few. All of these, however, evolved well after animism.
2006-11-29 08:02:32 · answer #1 · answered by whtknt 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Nobody can know this for sure, as there are no historical records for pre-history.
However, it is unlikely. The art of the upper paleolithic gives us a glimmer into the world of the mind of Aurignacian-era humans. Human beings are rarely depicted in this period's art; where modern animist cultures typically make art to represent ancestors, this appears to be almost completely absent in Aurignacian culture. Only one or two carved figures of people are known from this period, where hundreds of animal paintings, sculptures, and engravings are known.
A better model for Paleolithic religion would probably be the "dreamtime" religion of the Australian Aborigines, the world's oldest culture. However, that is sheer speculation. We just can't know.
2006-11-29 16:16:46 · answer #2 · answered by evolver 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I confess I don't know what animism is but I don't think the first religion had a name. Men just came down out of the trees struck two rocks together and said let there be light and there was light. Shaman said this magic was the work of God and if men didn't do what the Shaman said they would go to hell. And religion was born. Kisses Betty
2006-11-29 16:13:04 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm not sure I'd call animism a religion, but I'd agree that it is among the first beliefs in spiritualism.
2006-11-29 16:02:06 · answer #4 · answered by riverstorm13 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Such as Shinto in Japan and many beliefs of Africa and New Guinea.
2006-11-29 16:11:36 · answer #5 · answered by a_delphic_oracle 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
more like Shamanism would be closer to the original religion.
2006-11-29 16:06:54 · answer #6 · answered by Stephen 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
sure . any kind of religion has animism
2006-11-29 16:05:50 · answer #7 · answered by AMAR 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No God taught Adam Himself
2006-11-29 16:01:46 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
What is animism?
2006-11-29 16:01:38 · answer #9 · answered by handsomeworshipper 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i would say so - from some of the figures in cave paintings 40,000 or so years ago.
2006-11-29 16:06:41 · answer #10 · answered by Sage Bluestorm 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋