What was the first religion?

Question

just how many different religions are there now? is there only one true religion or will any religion save you from hell?

Answer 1

ANIMISM

Answer 2

Religion as we know it today is almost as old as civilization (about 10,000 years). The physical and organizational structures that religion embodies were some of the first governmental forces that ruled society, and continue to dictate great influence today! Religion is quite young. Considering that humans have been on the planet for 130,000 years, religion is still a new phenomena for us.

Some have mentioned Celtic paganism as the original religion, but how can this be considering that the Celts have only been in Europe for about 4,500 years. In fact Stonehenge and other neolithic aged stone monuments were built before the Druids ever came to Europe. And there was definitely a religion present and in control when these monuments were built!

Religion is older than Christianity or Judaism, older than Hinduism; Hinduism wasn't "introduced" by the Aryans to the Indus river valley until the decline of the indigenous civilization.

And

Animism and shamanism aren't religions, they are words to describe the spiritual belief systems that pre-agricultural people lived their lives by.

The oldest religious text (or text of any kind) that has survived to today is the Epic of Gilgamesh from 2650BC (4657 years old). This is thought to be the original story of Noah and the Arc. Beyond this Little more is known about early religions.

By some scholars it is believed that there are 21 major religions, in which most smaller religious groups may be classified in.

There may not be one true religion, but there is one truth.

What hell do you speak of...a Christian hell perhaps?

Answer 3

it is hard to say. Paganism isn't a religion per se, as it encompasses the worship of many different gods and the godess. The notion of gods have been around since man could communicate. Original gods were often ways of explaining the unexplainable. Fire, tides, moon travelling through the sky, and the sun rising and setting each day. Originally, the pharoah was considered a god because he could make the Nile flood the lands each year and allow for a bountiful harvest. Now, we know how fire, the sun, the moon, and the tides work. We understand that the Nile will flood each year at about the same time, and why that is. We have scientifically explained most gods out of existence.

There are two mysteries, IMO, that will not be answered, and will be the reason modern religions go one. One, no one knows how the universe and mankind truly came to be. We never will, as there is not written record of those times. Also, no one truly knows what happens when you die. Is there a light? Is there nothing, and you body start to decompose? No one knows, and no living person ever will with absolute 100% verifiable certainty.

Answer 4

The answer to your second question is easy... no religion will save you from hell because you don't need to be saved from hell. Hell is a myth used by religion to scare you into behaving the way they want you to, it's not a real place.

The first question is much trickier... The first religious practices that are known of were simply a reverence for nature. Early people believed that everything in nature had "anima." The easiest way to describe anima to you is to call it a "soul." Though this is not exactly what it is, it's the best example i can give you. People believed that if a rock fell down the side of a hill that rock willed itself to do so. Basically everything in nature was a cause unto itself. The first organized religions were pagan in nature. They venerated many gods and spirits (mostly nature spirits).

Answer 5

The first religion was Shamanism. Cave men had religious feelings just like we do. There are thousands of religions extant today across the earth. I doubt that ANY religion is absolutely correct, and none will save you from Hell. Only a real, Spiritual relatioship with your Creator can do that. And that is best achievd through... you guessed it! A loving relationship with Jesus Christ.

Answer 6

The first and still most popular religion is SELF cf. Eve. There are as many religions as people when we place ourselves first. The Christians believe they have the 1 true religion - not so much for saving us for hell as saving us to heaven. The proof they offer is the Resurrection of Jesus - the only religion able to make such a claim.

Answer 7

Differing forms of Astrology. agriculture is more advanced with the knowledge of the seasons. This would have been helped along with study of the movement of the stars and the moon. Astrologers grouped the stars and gave the groupings names (this gave them more power). And this had to be taught to the people uneducated in the field. And this would have been done largely, with stories. Which later developed into rigid religions, which managed to change (through wars helped along with pre knowledge of solar eclipses), into more rigid religions. And once every one knew how to predict eclipses, religion had to change, and have different forms of fear.
Religion will destroy people (much of the time without their knowledge)
'True religion' is an oxymoron.
Just my opinion.

Answer 8

The first religion was Stupidity.

It later begain to invlove into many things, one of which we now call "Christianity".

I don't believe that there is any organized religion that will specifically save you from "Hell". I believe that the only thing that will save you from such a place, is never going to be an organized religion, but doing what you know is right, and following your own life's path. Live it to the fullest. That's how you avoid Hell.

Answer 9

Religion exists from time immemorial with the existence of man.
There are man-made religions and true religions established by the Messengers of the One True God.
Today, it is easy to search for the truth by reading the Holy Books on the Internet.

Answer 10

The only true religion I believe is Christianity. I know some people don't believe that, but there is a big difference other religions don't have. the bible speaks about receiving the Holy Ghost as an inheritance of things to come, such as heaven. If you seek God and pray for the outpouring of the Holy Ghost, God will come closer to you and he will answer your question himself.

Answer 11

Hinduism is the First and oldest well organized religion which has given rise to Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism and 20 odd religions in India. India is the birth place of Religions and spirituality.