Pagans: Has anyone traced the ancestry of pagan beliefs to see if they all share a common source?

Question

My interest in paleo-anthropology has been to trace our various developments and migrations, for as people move so too do ideas and beliefs.

The current theories regarding the beginning of spiritual beliefs centres around the Neanderthal practice of covering the corpse with red ochre (thus giving the corpse the appearance of still being alive) before burial.

Homo Sapien examples of spirituality are not as old as those of Homo Neanderthalensis.

That Neanderthals and Sapiens lived at the same time and in the same place is not in doubt. But the real question is how much contact did they have with one other, and what kind of contact was it.

It is my belief that Pagan beliefs stretch back that far, if not further.

Can anyone add to this?

Answer 1

Well, it has been suggested that pagan beliefs date back to early man. With cave paintings of horned men, and women who were not horned.

It is my understanding that at the time, hunting and procreation were both very important. Drawings of women on cave walls suggest that the breast, genitals, and body was more important than say the face, which was not even present, or indistinguishable. Men were often drawn killing an animal, or with horns. It is impossible to determine if they were appealing to any sort of god or goddess, but we can assume. The “Horned God” and the “Goddess” in pagan belief bare a distinct resemblance to this.

Moving up, it is clear that many of the cultures that have existed have had “Pagan” beliefs, to one extent or another.

Many of the European witches, or pagans practiced sympathetic magic, in that they appealed to a god or goddess for a good harvest, or for something good to happen.

When the Christians, and various other religions started to convert, or kill these “Heathens” they went underground to save their selves.

Pagan religions have always been given bad labels because many of their practices, no matter how innocent were seen as evil.
When a Christian would see the horned god, their first inclination would be the devil.

There is a book called The complete book of witchcraft, by Buckland which could tell you more about the history.

To answer your question, yes pagan beliefs do have a common ancestor.

Answer 2

Most of what I've seen that goes back while still being traceable covers just the Indo-European stuff, tracing some of the early Vedic beliefs and how it changed/migrated into Europe. It starts getting harder to trace when you head further back from that, because you start getting into a lot more speculation on what things mean. ::shrugs::

I've seen some recent studies suggesting that Sapiens and Neanderthals had a reasonable amount of contact, potentially even interbreeding, so I'm guessing that if that happened, beliefs and practices were likely shared as well. If so, some of those early practices probably had a pretty long lifespan - Neanderthal wasn't known for being the most inventive, so anything they did come up with probably stuck around for quite some time.

Answer 3

I guess you could call me an 'atheistic' Pagan because I believe its quite possible the Gods I honor are not real. However, I also think it doesn't really matter. (Getting into why would take up too much space.) I honor my ancestors (anyone honorable, not just blood ancestors), the Norse Gods, and practice a type of magick. Basically, I'm Asatru. But I don't like to confine myself to that word because some of my beliefs are more Wiccan or Buddhist. And also because they are not so open to queer people. I believe in reincarnation, but in between lives we take a rest in a Heaven-like place. I also think science and religion are both trying to explain the same thing.

Answer 4

I've seen evidence of statues resembling drawing and art at later dates, which hold the general form given to the Goddess. These date back to the stone age and such. It's more than likely that they began in a similar space, as the origins of man were from one specific site.

Answer 5

The common source of pagan beliefs is the experience of the imaginal world, which is innate to human beings. In short, paganism is the default religion of humanity.

Answer 6

I'm sure the first Humans were Pagans.I'm sure a nature based religion would have been the original faith-it just makes sense.

Answer 7

It would make sense as our first distinctly human thought to recognize God.

Answer 8

You know, I don't remember you being this nice when you use to ask Christian questions.....seems unbalanced for someone who preaches love