How did each religion of the ancient worlds begin?
It is assumed that every religion of the ancient worldsappeared at the dawn of humanity, at a time when it was just beginning its journey to modern civilized society. This is partly true. For the ancient person were not clear not only the elements of his own environment in particular, but all events in general. And he could not in any other way explain them to himself, except as religious. He believed that the rain comes after the shaman knocked on the tambourine, or that if he did not make a sacrifice, the Gods might become angry and send a curse to his tribe. In a word, ancient religions differed significantly from those that modern man dictates.
What were the first beliefs based on?
Any religion of the ancient worlds wasfaith in certain forces that seem to rise above nature. Man could not separate himself from his environment - trees, animals, stones, mountains, plains and everything else. He pictured himself as something that rotates within the world and nature. People of that time could not explain how they differ from wolves or, for example, mammoths. For them everything was the same. Previously it was believed that this is how the first religion of the ancient worlds appeared.
| Name | Description |
| Animism | Belief in nature, but here it is understood only its living side |
| Totemism | The belief that an animal can be close to a person in spirit. Also believed that with their totem beasts people were in a past life (according to some reports - will be after rebirth) |
| Fetishism | The belief that inanimate objects can think, feel just like a person |
| Shamanism and magic | The belief that certain people can interact not only with their fellow tribesmen, but also with spirits |
Mythology, or First steps of the separation of mankind from its natural environment
After these first beliefs appeared mythology,or, in a sense, a new, improved religion of the ancient worlds. Here the person has already gradually began to separate himself from nature. If initially he thought that there are people, animals and plants, and all this lives nearby, without interfering and complementing each other, now he began to elevate himself above the environment. And, accordingly, Gods or mythological beings became higher than him. In this confession, the primitive thread was still seen: beasts easily turned into people, plants into animals and so on.
First religions - the basis of modern religions
Modern scientists reject those explanations,which were several dozen years ago. It used to be that everything that could not be explained and interpreted by an ancient person as a supreme power could be a confession. Now the concept of religion has got a slightly different meaning. After the formation of mythology in the further creation of beliefs, man began to completely separate himself from the natural environment and above himself set God or the Gods. The latter took direct part in people's lives, could create favorable or negative circumstances for them, but they never showed themselves. It is from this time and it is believed that the religions in modern interpretation acquired the civilizations of the ancient world.
| Name | Description |
| Judaism | The first religion is "from Abraham" (there are only 7 of them). It stands in line with such common beliefs as Christianity and Islam |
| Taoism | Religion is based on finding a way. And this does not necessarily have to deal with a person, but also objects and phenomena |
| Hinduism | Religion is based on the mythology of the Hindus, andif in the rest of such beliefs the theory is facilitated, then here, on the contrary, it becomes more complicated. It is the basis for many other beliefs, such as Krishnaism or Buddhism |
| Zoroastrianism | Religion based on faith in fire, regardless of its manifestation |
Proceeding from the aforesaid, it is impossible to tell precisely,which is the most ancient religion of the world. Many scholars and philosophers still argue whether it is worth attributing totemism to religion or, for example, Egyptian mythology. One thing is certain - the newest modern religions have certain similarities with those that were formed thousands of years ago. Consequently, there is a connection between them, regardless of whether they are related to religions or not.
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