When was the afterlife invented?

Question

The ancient Egyptians developed a rich system of beliefs in life after death. Did any other or older civilizations have a similar idea? What about India and Persia and China?

Answer 1

As already stated, every culture across the globe has some vision of the afterlife. Because of this, it could be argued that spirituality and the afterlife are societal concepts rather than religious. Even naturalistic cultures, which are the earliest known cultures and date back to prehistory, have (or had, as most have become "extinct") basic beliefs of spirituality and the afterlife.

It seems to be a matter of humanity rather than any other factor. The only difference is the way the afterlife "looks" to different cultures and religions. Comparitive mythologists have long studied the similarities among the myths and religions of cultures across the globe. Such myths speak to us in an archetypal sense.

So, the afterlife was never invented. Belief in *something* (the afterlife, spirituality, the Divine, absence of the Divine) is a part of human nature.

Answer 2

In the caves of France where the caveman paintings exist, are paintings of the spirits of the hunters and the hunted. Spirits of their ancestors helped the caveman find the herds of animals that would feed them through the winter.

The afterlife seemed to exist before cultures developed. Even before organized religions were formed. It appears to be a basic belief mankind has embedded in their DNA.

Answer 3

I don't know about Taoism in Ancient China, but Zoroastrians in Ancient Persia believed in an afterlife, among other things :

"Ahura Mazda will ultimately prevail, at which point the universe will undergo a cosmic renovation and time will end (cf: Zoroastrian eschatology). In the final renovation, all of creation - even the souls of the dead that were initially banished to "darkness" - will be (re)united in God."

"Zoroastrianism dates back to between 1700 BCE to 1000 BCE, but it only enters recorded history in the mid-5th century BC."

"Basic beliefs" in "Zoroastrianism", Wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism#Principal_beliefs

Answer 4

Every culture in History has had the belief in one form or the other. The Egyptians and the Christians brought to its ultimate. It is a wish and desire that a persons personality lives on after their body is rotted. Does it exist? WHo knows. No one has yet to come back and tell us. I am one who would like to think that I, me, myself will live forever, but doubts often spring up.

Answer 5

all religious cultures believed in an afterlife the Mayans ,Aboriginals, Christians, Buddhists Celtics, etc.

Answer 6

Right after death was invented.

Answer 7

ARE YOU SERIOUS? EVERY CULTURE AROUND THE WORLD HAS AFTERLIFE BELIEFS..CHINA HAS A TOMB OF KING DATING THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO BUILD FOR AFTER LIFE AND THEY STILL PRACTICE A FESTIVAL FOR THEIR DEAD, THEY OFFER FOODS AND MATERIALS FOR THEIR ANCESTER'S GHOSTLY WORLD. HINDU AND BUDDHIST BELIEVE IN RE-INCARNATION, INFACT BUDDHISIUM IS A BRANCH OF HINDU. IT'S THE OLDEST RELIGION IN THE WORLD. IT'S THE ULTIMATE MYSTERY THAT EVERY PEOPLE BELIEVES AND STILL DOES.

Answer 8

I guess when the first person died and made hell cus he wanted to feel at home

Answer 9

as long as there are people, there is an afterlife... and a pre-life...

Answer 10

what every body else said