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The Oldest Religion in the World: The Origin of Belief

Crecganford・67 minutes read

The oldest religion dates back over 2,830 years, with Abraham as a key figure, leading to monotheistic Abrahamic religions like Judaism, Christianity, and Islam evolving over time. Various myths and gods from Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Indo-European cultures have influenced religious beliefs globally for thousands of years, with the development of rituals and stories reflecting human connections and fears.

Insights

  • Abrahamic religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, have been monotheistic for about 3,000 years, focusing on one God.
  • Mesopotamian religions were polytheistic, with gods associated with natural forces and societal roles like Sky Gods, gods of winds and storms, and gods of Love and War.
  • The birth of civilization occurred in a region where permanent settlements first appeared, with farming becoming a significant food source over ten thousand years ago.

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Recent questions

  • What are the origins of the world's oldest religion?

    The world's oldest religion is believed to be over 2,830 years old, with Abraham considered a foundational figure born around 1813 BCE in ER in the Middle East. This religion has influenced many other faiths and has a rich history dating back thousands of years.

  • How did Christianity differ from Islam in beliefs?

    Christianity originated as a sect of Judaism in the first century CE, centered around Jesus Christ as the Messiah and Son of God, differing from Islamic beliefs. While both religions are monotheistic and share some commonalities, they have distinct beliefs and practices that set them apart.

  • What influenced the spread of Mesopotamian religions?

    Mesopotamian agricultural practices led to the spread of their religious culture, influencing myths and gods in regions like Greece and Turkey. The connection between farming knowledge and religious practices played a significant role in the dissemination of Mesopotamian beliefs across different regions.

  • How did the transition to settled farming communities impact religion?

    The transition from hunting and gathering to settled farming communities influenced the creation of gods for weather, love, fertility, and other aspects of daily life. Early settlements of Neolithic people show evidence of developing religious beliefs, with farming becoming a significant factor in shaping religious practices.

  • What is the significance of mythology in tracing global beliefs?

    Mythology, analyzed through phylogenetics, can help trace the spread and approximate dates of myths. Myths and motifs have traveled across the world, originating before the last human dispersal from Africa over 70,000 years ago, influencing diverse cultural beliefs and narratives.

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Summary

00:00

"Origins of Abrahamic Religions and Mythology"

  • The world's oldest religion is believed to be over 2,830 years old, with Abraham considered a foundational figure born around 1813 BCE in ER in the Middle East.
  • Abrahamic religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, have been monotheistic for about 3,000 years, focusing on one God.
  • Islam emerged 1,300 years ago in Mecca, present-day Saudi Arabia, with Muhammad as a significant figure, not worshipped but considered a prophet.
  • Christianity originated as a sect of Judaism in the first century CE, centered around Jesus Christ as the Messiah and Son of God, differing from Islamic beliefs.
  • Judaism, the oldest of the Abrahamic faiths, transitioned from polytheism to strict monotheism around the early 6th Century BCE.
  • Mesopotamia, with a rich religious history, influenced many religions through its myths and stories, migrating across regions and evolving over time.
  • Mesopotamian agricultural practices led to the spread of their religious culture, influencing myths and gods in regions like Greece and Turkey.
  • Creation myths, such as the Mesopotamian story of Tiamat and Marduk, influenced biblical narratives like Genesis, with adaptations and variations.
  • European myths, like the Viking poem "Balder's Dream," show agricultural influences and motifs of journeying into the underworld, reflecting changing seasons.
  • Followers of Judaism, exiled from Babylon, incorporated Mesopotamian myths and motifs into their religious texts, influencing stories like the flood myths and Adam and Eve narrative.

18:10

Ancient Religions: Polytheism, Influence, and Poetry

  • Mesopotamian religions were polytheistic, with gods associated with natural forces and societal roles like Sky Gods, gods of winds and storms, and gods of Love and War.
  • Worship in temples and archaeological evidence show this form of worship dates back to the late fourth millennium BCE.
  • Sumerian religious concepts influenced Assyrians, Babylonians, and elements of Judaism.
  • Farming potentially aided the spread of Mesopotamian religions due to the connection between farming knowledge and religious practices.
  • Evidence of worshiping deities supporting farming appeared around 4000 BCE, with figurines and ritualized burial practices.
  • Egypt influenced the Near East and Mediterranean regions, with iconic cultural elements like pharaohs and pyramids.
  • Egyptian religion emphasized the afterlife, with Sun gods, mother goddesses, and complex funeral practices.
  • Indo-European traditional religions, originating around 6000 years ago near the Black Sea, practiced polytheism with consistent motifs in creation myths and pantheons.
  • Indo-Europeans interacted with and influenced Neolithic farmers and hunter-gatherers, spreading their beliefs and rituals.
  • Poetry played a crucial role in preserving stories and myths orally, with poems serving as a means of remembering important cultural narratives.

37:07

Origins of Early European Farmers and Gods

  • The myth of Celtic Waters with primordial beings is older than the Primal double, leading to the personification of gods like Okeanos in Greek versions of creation myths.
  • The birth of civilization occurred in a region where permanent settlements first appeared, with farming becoming a significant food source over ten thousand years ago.
  • Around 16,000 years ago, humans in the region began eating grasses to supplement their diet, with only about five percent being deliberately domesticated.
  • The Fertile Crescent, stretching from the Nile to the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers, became ideal for growing crops like barley and wheat, leading to the reliance on agricultural farming.
  • The transition from hunting and gathering to settled farming communities influenced the creation of gods for weather, love, fertility, and other aspects of daily life.
  • Early settlements of Neolithic people, like Jericho and Catalhoyuk, show evidence of ancestor statues, Venus figurines, and hunting scenes, indicating the development of religious beliefs.
  • Gobekli Tepe, a significant site, provides clues to the religious history of the period, with communal rituals and recognizable religious practices taking place.
  • The transition from hunter-gatherer to settled farming communities is evident in sites like Gobekli Tepe and Nevali Cori, with the artwork reflecting a hunter-gatherer mindset.
  • The genomic origins of the world's first farmers indicate a transition from hunter-gatherer groups to distinct farming communities in the Near East and Europe.
  • The study shows the split of hunter-gatherer groups into distinct genetic pools, influenced by geographic factors and environmental conditions, leading to the emergence of early European farmers.

56:31

Ancient cultures and beliefs shape early religions.

  • Naya culture expands across Europe, Persia, and into India.
  • Archaeological finds showing ritual behavior around the Balkans and Anatolia before 15,000 years ago may influence hunter-gatherer religions.
  • Hunter-gatherer cultures were nomadic, leading to shamanistic or animistic beliefs.
  • Shamanism involves a shaman mediating between the human and spirit world.
  • Animism attributes souls or spirits to various entities in the natural world.
  • Venus figures found across Eurasia, possibly representing a female deity, date back to around 10,000 to 30,000 years ago.
  • The Lion Man of Hohlenstein-Stadel is a unique, imaginary figure carving from 40,000 years ago.
  • Cave art, some over 45,000 years old, primarily depicts animals and may have been used as a proto-writing system.
  • Burials, such as those in Siberia and North America, show ritual behavior and beliefs linked through DNA evidence.
  • Mythology, analyzed through phylogenetics, can help trace the spread and approximate dates of myths.

01:18:16

Ancient Myths and Rituals Shape Global Beliefs

  • Myths and motifs have traveled across the world, originating before the last human dispersal from Africa over 70,000 years ago.
  • The flood myth began in Southeast Asia 30,000 years ago, spreading to North America and Europe, influencing creation myths and rituals.
  • The motif of the fair men of the Dead, involving a journey to the afterlife, originated in Siberian culture 25,000 years ago, spreading to North America and Indo-European cultures.
  • The Cosmic Hunt story, dating back 40,000 years, depicts a hunting ritual releasing the Sun, indicating an early understanding of the solar year.
  • Dragons, a popular myth for 70,000 years, originated in South Africa, spreading to China, Australia, South America, Eurasia, and Europe in varied forms.
  • Creation myths, including the Earth diver, Tree of Life, and flood myth, trace back to Africa before human dispersal, influencing global beliefs.
  • Myths of death and the loss of immortality, rooted in Africa over 70,000 years ago, influenced stories like Adam and Eve, reflecting human fear and wonder.
  • Burial rituals, practiced over 170,000 years ago, suggest emotional care for the dead, indicating an early form of religious belief and ritual behavior.
  • Neanderthal religious practices, evidenced in intentional burials at sites like Le Chapel and Shanidar caves, hint at ritual and symbolic behavior.
  • The birth of religious thought, marked by emotional connections and rituals around death, suggests a gradual evolution towards the development of religion and mythology.

01:41:58

"Engage, Explore, Support: krakenfold's Mythology Channel"

  • Encourages viewers to ask questions in the comments for answers.
  • Suggests checking out other videos on the channel for more detailed explanations.
  • Requests support on Patron for further research and maintenance of the mythology database.
  • Recommends a specific video on the loss of immortality for viewers to watch.
  • Signs off as "krakenfold" and wishes viewers to stay safe and well.
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