What I want to know is what and when was the first religion. Was it Egyption Mythology, Greek Mythology, Judaism, Hinduism, or some religion that is no longer practiced today. When did it first appear.
2007-03-12 10:12:20 · 17 answers · asked by blackeyedpeabrain 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'd say Shamanism or Animism
However, historians had suggested that the ancient Neanderthals also had their own religions as well, like the worship of Nature, Sun, Moon, etc.
2007-03-12 10:15:46 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Animism
The worship of Heavenly Bodies and Mysterious Earthly phenomena and objects as deity like the Sun, the Moon, Lightning, Tornadoes, Rivers, Lakes, Giant unexplained creatures, Rocks, Eclipses,Trees and Meteorites etc. They did not adhere "human" characteristics to these entities.
They were worshiped for bestowing Light or warmth for example, and has been around since the cavemen could draw pictures on Cave walls to "record" their memories or express their delight, when such a worship apparently brings result, like worshipping the clouds and rain falls.
2007-03-12 10:14:53 · answer #2 · answered by Kuan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first religion was an expanded version of Judaism that was really more like Christianity in that they knew of and expected the coming of the Messiah and it was given to Adam and Eve after they were cast out of the Garden.
2007-03-12 10:23:11 · answer #3 · answered by rbarc 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Scientists actually discovered (late last year I believe) evidence of the first religious rituals in Africa over 70,000 years ago or thereabouts. It appears there were rituals done to a stone snake. So the earliest religion was a form of Animism/Paganism.
Here's the article on it (from Scientific American):
http://scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa027&articleID=3FE89A86-E7F2-99DF-366D045A5BF3EAB1
2007-03-12 10:17:34 · answer #4 · answered by swordarkeereon 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hinduism was the first that is still practiced today. Who knows what else people may have come up with.
2007-03-12 10:15:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
check out this site. http://www.religion-cults.com/ancient.htm
each religion is given a basic time line. also look for Zoroastrianism.
that and animism are always in the top ten if you do a google search of ancient religions.
2007-03-12 10:19:10 · answer #6 · answered by mommynow 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Witches
2007-03-12 10:34:35 · answer #7 · answered by Boogerman 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you mean an organized religion???? Belief in an afterlife has existed as long as man and maybe earlier.... archaeological digs of burial sites demonstrate that....
2007-03-12 10:17:25 · answer #8 · answered by waynebudd 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Far older than that. Neaderthals certainly had some form of religion, as they buried their dead in the clear understanding there was an afterlife.
2007-03-12 10:16:32 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stonehenge pre dates them all and there is evidence of even older religions
2007-03-12 10:15:29 · answer #10 · answered by Freethinking Liberal 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋