assumed that every religion of the ancient worlds appeared at the dawn of humanity, at a time when it was just starting its way to a modern civilized society.This is partly true.For ancient people were not clear, not only the elements of his own environment in particular, but also all the events as a whole.And he could not have any other way to explain them to yourself but to the religious.He believed that the rain comes after a knock on the shaman drum, or that if you do not offer sacrifice, the gods are angry and send upon his tribe any curse.In a word, the ancient religion are very different from those dictated by modern humans.
What beliefs are based first?
Any religion ancient worlds was a belief in certain forces, which seemed to rise above nature.The man could not separate himself from his environment - trees, animals, rocks, mountains, plains, and other things.He presented himself as something that rotates inside the world and nature.People of that time could not explain how they differ from wolves and, for example, mammoths.For them, everything was the same.It used to be that this is what came first the religion of ancient worlds.
| name | Description |
| Animism | Faith in nature, but this refers only to live her party |
| Totemism | belief that an animal may be close to manspirit.Also, believe in what their totem animals people were in a past life (according to some sources - will be after rebirth) |
| Fetishism | belief that inanimate objects can think, feel the same way as a person |
| Shamanism and magic | belief that certain people can interact not only with their own members, but also with the spirits |
Mythology, or first steps separating humanity from its natural environment
After these initial beliefs appeared mythology, orin a sense, a new, improved religion of the ancient worlds.Here people are gradually began to separate themselves from nature.Initially he thought that there are people, animals and plants, and all that lives side by side without interfering with and complementing each other, but now he began to elevate themselves above the environment.And, accordingly, above it became gods or mythological creatures.This religion still viewed primordial thread: animals easily turned into people, plants - in animals and so on.
first religion - the basis of modern religions
Modern scholars reject the explanations that have been just a few decades ago.It used to be that religion can be all that at a certain point it was impossible to explain the old man was treated as a higher power.Now the concept of religion has received a somewhat different meaning.After the formation of the future creation mythology beliefs man became definitively separate themselves from the natural environment and put himself above God or Gods.The last took part in the lives of people can create for them favorable or adverse circumstances, but they never showed.Since that time, and it is believed that the religion in the modern treatment of acquired civilization of the ancient world.
| name | Description |
| first Jewish religion "of Abraham" (a total of 7).It should be on a par with common beliefs such as Christianity and Islam | |
| Taoism | Religion is based on the search path.And this does not have to deal with people and objects and phenomena |
| Hindu religion is based on Hindu mythology, and if the rest of veroobrazovany theory easier, here it is, on the contrary, become more difficult.It is the basis for many other faiths, such as Hare Krishna and Buddhism | |
| Zoroastrianism | religion based on the belief in the fire, regardless of its manifestations |
Based on the foregoing, it is impossible to say exactly what is the most ancient religionworld.Many scientists and philosophers are still arguing about whether to attribute to religion totemism or, for example, the Egyptian mythology.One thing is for sure - from the newest modern religions, there are certain similarities with those that were formed thousands of years ago.Consequently, communication between them is retained, regardless of whether they relate to denominations or not.
