why do some people on here keep insisting that judaism is the oldest religion?

Question

even if you want to take the torah as a literal, accurate, historical account, it talks about other religions and gods that predate or at least coincided with the hebrew religion. it talks about how we basically practiced a form of paganism, not judaism, albeit with the belief that there was one god, before we entered the covenant with god to be jews. so my question is, where is this misinformation coming from? when i google search ancient religions i get animism and wiccan, so are they purposely spreading misinformation, and if so, why?

i love being jewish, i don't care if it was first or not. that seems a very silly reason to follow a religion anyway. i just don't get why it matters enough for some people to lie about it. so, tell me, what am i missing here?

Answer 1

No clue, dear. I mean, even Jewish tradition says that Father Abraham's father was an idol maker.

Doesn't that sort of indicate older religions??

Duh.

Answer 2

I think it's because the majority of Christians have never studied any religion, including their own. They are being told that everything in the Torah points to Jesus. They won't read anything that might discredit that idea so they continue to believe that Christianity is the only religion to ever have existed.

Biblical archeology scholars are learning many things about the Bible. Because Judaism requires no belief other than "God is One" our religion continually adapts and evolves. I suspect that religious fundmentalism is the root of the problems between the three Abrahamic religions. The fundamentalists of all three religions continue to resist modernization.
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Answer 3

some people base the validity of their religion on the age of it.

many Wiccans will claim Wicca as the olest religion on earth,,yet it is a fact that it was founded in the 1950's by gerald gardner.

many Celtic Pagans would like to think that their religion was the first in the Gaelic or british lands..but science shows that Stonehenge was very possibly built by an earlier people.

the Native Americans have an oral history that goes back 15000 years, and even they admit that there are older belief systems in the southern lands.

Answer 4

I think they mean oldest monotheistic religion. Hinduism is much older than Judaism--so old we don't know when it originated. Paganism is probably even older. At least when I say it I mean oldest monotheistic religion, though to a point that probably isn't accurate either. Maybe the oldest of the big three?

Answer 5

because some Christians are desperate for their particular god to have always been there saving people.

They say that Adam and Eve worshipped God and so trace the Jewish line through them. I think its also something to do with young earth creationism but i may be wrong.

Its also to try to help them disprove any of the neo-pagan religions as they do come from something before Judaism but to help them justify their belief that God has always been present to save everyone this cant be true for them.

Its all a bit messed up but its part of their faith so we just have to let them get on with it.

Answer 6

You are correct. Part of the problem lies with the literal interpretation of the Torah, and part of it lies with christians' lack of study of judaism. While they claim your people's holy writings as their own, they know nothing of judaism nor its interpretation of the torah, nevi'im, and ketuvim.

As for Wicca, it is NOT an ancient religion.. it's only 60 years old. Animism is the oldest known religion, dating back at least 70,000 years.

I have a great respect for your religion, and for your people. Judaism does not lay claim to being the oldest religion. That comes directly from christianity, as they take the Old Testament literally where it suits them.

Answer 7

Obviously not the first world religion. People have been worshiping things like the sun, the moon, and the wind since we fell out of the trees.

However, judaism spawned christianity and islam (the whole Abraham/Ibrahim thing) so maybe that is where people are confused?

Answer 8

there is a number of of distinction. Jews have not got self assurance in "unique Sin" because it fairly is defined by employing Christians. We have self assurance that guy is inherently stable, inspite of the indisputable fact that imperfect and able to sinning; yet no longer innately sinful. we don't think in an unique celestial Heaven, as Christians do; yet an inclusive terrestrial paradise, the Olam Haba (the international to return). in contrast to three Christians (yet like others, including Catholics) we don't take a literal interpretation of the Genesis creation tale; and, as such, have no quarrels with cutting-edge technology. there is extra adjustments than that; yet it somewhat is a reasonably stable sampling for now. EDIT: EddieJ is amazingly only right suited too. action is extra substantial than concept. it somewhat is why Jewish "heaven" is inclusive; righteous gentiles are only as deserving of paradise, from the Jewish attitude. additionally, this emphasis on suitable action is explicitly defined in scripture. Jews are referred to as to do Tikkun Olam or "Mending the international". As such, Social Justice and Environmentalism are a huge portion of Judaism in practice.

Answer 9

Because Christianity was born from Judaism... and there are so many things in the "holy text" that almost directly comes from other religions... they have to claim that it is all a deviation from the original, true religion.

Answer 10

Almost all religions before it were polytheistic.

Most consider Judaism to be the oldest monotheistic religion.

Most certainly is not the oldest religion. Animism/tribal religions/polytheism were here first.

My, my typing is suffering today.

Answer 11

Because it is the oldest Abrahamic religion and many who practice it consider all else as pagan and not religion.