History of Religion

To understand the deep history of religion, we first need to define it. Religion is described as a shared reverence for the supernatural, sacred, or spiritual, alongside associated symbols, rituals, and worship. The evolution of human religion is closely tied to the increasing sociality of hominins. While modern religious studies often focus on theology-based, doctrinal religions, evolutionary psychologists argue that earlier shamanic forms, predating current theological religions by hundreds of thousands of years, are crucial to understanding its origins. These shamanic forms are characteristic of hunter-gatherers and lack the gods and moral codes of later post-agricultural societies. The emergence of religion can be viewed through two lenses: functionalism (religion provides evolutionary benefits for group living) or as a byproduct of other evolutionary processes. The video emphasizes that religion likely serves a function for group survival and requires a look back at how human ancestors evolved to live in groups. This involved a shift from less social ape ancestors to more cohesive primary groups driven by environmental pressures like protection from predators and access to food. This socialization was achieved not through increased 'intelligence' but through an enhancement of emotions, particularly positive ones, and critical changes in subcortical brain structures. This emotional palette, including complex elaborations like guilt and shame, became crucial for binding individuals into close social groups. Propensities like reading faces, empathy, ritualistic behavior, and a sense of justice, already present in apes, were further enhanced. Play, as a form of 'serious play' without immediate survival capacity, is identified as a root of ritual. Empathy, defined as a bodily and emotional synchronization, is central to morality and an interest in others. Altruistic and cooperative tendencies are natural in many mammals and are pleasurable, a mechanism evolution uses to encourage beneficial behaviors. Animals also show normative behavior, actively trying to preserve social harmony. These deeply ingrained tendencies, tracing back to parental care in mammalian evolution, are the simple beginnings from which complex religious phenomena developed. Modern religious services, though seemingly far removed, are built upon these biological and cosmological foundations.

The debate regarding the oldest religion is ongoing, with archaeological evidence challenging prevailing theological views. Contrary to some academic consensus, significant evidence of religious practices dates back to the Middle Paleolithic period (300,000 to 50,000 BCE). Intentional burial, especially with grave goods, is considered one of the earliest detectable forms, signifying concern for the dead beyond daily life. The earliest undisputed human burial is 100,000 years old in Israel, featuring red ochre and grave goods like a wild boar mandible. Moving into the Upper Paleolithic (around 40,000 BCE), we find evidence of cremation and the Aurignacian figurine (38,000 BCE), the oldest known zoomorphic sculpture, possibly representing a deity. Venus figurines (35,000 to 21,000 BCE) found in graves also suggest symbolic practices. More elaborate burials with red ochre and jewelry are seen in Iberia, Wales, and Eastern Europe. The Neolithic period (around 12,000 years ago) shows a significant resumption of burial activity, with features resembling modern cemeteries. The discovery of Göbekli Tepe (pre-Pottery Neolithic) around 9000 BCE, the oldest religious site, with massive T-shaped stone pillars and carved reliefs, indicates advanced organization before the Neolithic revolution. The site's abandonment coincides with the beginning of agriculture, suggesting its importance to older foraging communities and its potential role in the general history of religions. The absence of a solid answer for the 'oldest religion' is largely due to the limited scope of written records, which only extend back about 5,000 years.

The first recognized written records of religion originate in Mesopotamia, coinciding with the development of the first written language around 3500 BCE in Sumer. Mesopotamian religion, encompassing Sumer, Akkad, Assyria, and Babylonia (3500 BCE - 400 CE), evolved from the worship of natural forces to an expansive cast of personified divinities with specific functions. Later stages introduced personal religion and a monarchical hierarchy with a national god. Its decline was influenced by Iranian religions and Christianization. In Egypt, religious practices date back to around 3400 BCE in the Pre-Dynastic period, with sparse archaeological evidence suggesting belief in an afterlife through careful burials and the development of zoomorphic deities. The Early Dynastic Period (around 3000 BCE) saw the unification of Egypt, elevating certain deities and centralizing the cult of the divine pharaoh. During the Old Kingdom, priesthoods organized the pantheon, and funeral rituals (e.g., pyramids) influenced later temple and deity worship. The Middle Kingdom, after a period of disorder, saw increased personal piety. The New Kingdom, led by Thebian rulers, established Amun as the supreme state god. Akhenaten's radical changes, replacing Amun with Aten, were reversed by his successors, leading to a backlash that increased popular piety and the influence of oracles and priesthoods. In the first millennium BCE, Egypt weakened, and foreign rulers emerged. Animal cults became popular. The Ptolemaic dynasty (Hellenistic kingdom) adopted the pharaonic role, maintaining traditional religion and blending Greek and Egyptian deities (e.g., Serapis). After Egypt became a Roman province (30 BCE), traditional temples declined, and religious practice became localized and fragmented. Christianity spread, and by the 3rd and 4th centuries CE, edicts and iconoclasm by Christians led to the slow fade of Egyptian religion.

The Indus Valley Civilization (3300-1300 BCE, with antecedents back to 7000-6000 BCE) presents challenges in understanding its religion due to sparse and undeciphered evidence, leading to speculative conclusions often viewed through a later Hindu perspective. Key assumptions include: worship of a mother goddess and other male/female deities; a father god possibly a prototype of Shiva; familiarity with yoga and meditation; belief in a tree of life (Pipal or Acacia) guarded by a spirit against evil (tiger); worship of fertility symbols (round and pierced stones); belief in magical rituals, charms, amulets, spirits, and demons; the Great Bath of Mohenjo-Daro as a prototype for sacred tanks used for purification baths; and the use of water and animals in sacrificial rituals. Unlike contemporary civilizations, Indus Valley lacks monumental palaces, suggesting religious ceremonies were possibly confined to homes, small temples, or open-air settings. Funerary practices included fractional burial and cremation. Long before ancient Greek civilization, the Minoan civilization on Crete (known primarily through archaeological remains) practiced religion. They prominently worshipped a great goddess, though their society was not matriarchal. Their pantheon included a spear-wielding male god and goddesses of fertility, animals, cities, households, harvest, and the underworld, often symbolized by serpents, birds, poppies, or animals on their heads.

Judaism's origins trace to the Bronze Age amidst polytheistic ancient Semitic religions, specifically evolving from Canaanite polytheism and incorporating elements of Babylonian belief into the worship of Yahweh. While Judaism appears in Greek records during the Hellenistic period and Israel is mentioned in the Merneptah Stele (1213-1203 BCE), religious literature places Israelite history back to 1500 BCE. During the Iron Age, Israelite religion became distinct from Canaanite polytheism, starting with Yahwehism (monolatristic worship of Yahweh, acknowledging other gods but suppressing their worship), which later transitioned into strict monotheism during the Babylonian captivity (6th-5th centuries BCE). Second Temple Judaism (5th century BCE - 70 CE) was influenced by Zoroastrianism, and the Hebrew Bible was redacted and canonized during this period. The Olmec religion (Mesoamerica, 1200-400 BCE) significantly influenced later Mesoamerican cultures. Lacking direct surviving accounts, archaeologists reconstruct Olmec beliefs through iconography, art, and comparisons with later and modern indigenous cultures, based on the 'continuity hypothesis.' This research has identified several deities or supernaturals embodying animal characteristics. Mainstream Greek religion, a polytheistic faith traced to proto-Indo-European origins, lasted over a thousand years (Homer to Emperor Julian). Its influence spread widely, particularly affecting the Romans, who equated their deities with Greek ones (e.g., Zeus with Jupiter, Hera with Juno). Greek heroes and deities even survived as Christian saints. The characteristic belief was in multiple anthropomorphic deities under a supreme god, with priests managing cults and no sacred texts. The decline of Greco-Roman polytheism was partly due to its syncretic nature, incorporating beliefs from various foreign traditions. Constantine's conversion to Christianity and the Edict of Milan (313 CE) led to official tolerance, but pagan and Christian communities remained segregated. Christian communities formed anew rather than converting existing temples. Zoroastrianism, one of the world's oldest continuously practiced religions (with possible roots in the 2nd millennium BCE, recorded history from 5th century BCE), is a dualistic faith centered on good versus evil, with a supreme being, Ahura Mazda. Its major features—messianism, judgment after death, heaven/hell, free will—may have influenced Judaism, Gnosticism, Greek philosophy, Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism. It became the state religion of the Persian and Parthian empires, finding its fullest expression under the Sassanian Empire. After the Muslim Arab invasion in 651 CE, Zoroastrians faced persecution but survived as a reduced community.

Jainism, originating in India in the 6th century BCE, takes its name from 'Jinas' (conquerors), referring to 24 great teachers, with Mahavira considered its founder. An early schism divided followers into Svetambaras (monks and nuns wear white robes) and Digambaras (monks wear no clothes, and women cannot achieve liberation). The schism deepened when Svetambaras canonized scriptures in 456 CE, excluding Digambaras. Jainism later migrated westward, becoming more influential in its new areas, with Digambaras settling in the south. Many scholars consider Hinduism (Sanatan Dharma, the eternal order) the oldest religion, founded as early as 5500 BCE. It is a fusion of various Indian cultures and traditions, including the Vedic religion and pre-existing Indian cultures. Hinduism is henotheistic, believing in one supreme god, Brahma, whose immense nature is manifested through various deities like Vishnu and Shiva, leading to a pantheon of 330 million gods. Confucianism developed from the teachings of Chinese philosopher Confucius (551-479 BCE). Described as a tradition, philosophy, or religion, it's seen as a continuation of the Shang-Zhou official religion. The terms 'Confucianism' and 'Confucian' are Western labels. Deeply influencing Chinese spiritual and political life, its reach extended to Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. East Asians often remain Confucians, even while practicing other religions. Confucianism engaged in a push-and-pull dynamic with Buddhism and Taoism, experiencing periods of high influence during various dynasties. It declined with the rise of communism and Maoism in the 20th century. Buddhism, originating in northeastern India in the 5th century BCE based on Siddhartha Gautama's teachings, is one of the oldest practiced religions. It spread and evolved across Asia, influencing much of the continent. Its history includes numerous movements and schisms. By the 3rd century BCE, the Mauryn Indian Emperor Ashoka the Great (268-232 BCE) made Buddhism the state religion of India, promoting missionary activity and a favorable political climate. Archaeological evidence for Buddhism is scarce before Ashoka but abundant afterward. The 1st century CE saw the rise of Mahayana Buddhism in northern India, a more adaptable school open to doctrinal innovations. Mahayana Buddhism is now the dominant form in many East Asian countries.

Christianity, a monotheistic religion, bases its teachings on the life of Jesus of Nazareth, considered the son of God and messiah. Its scriptures include the Torah (Old Testament) and the New Testament, forming the Bible. Originating in Jerusalem as an outgrowth of Judaism in the 1st century CE, it rapidly spread throughout Judea and the ancient world. Christianity has undergone countless reformation movements, leading to numerous sects and denominations. Its three largest branches are Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism, making it the largest religion globally with about 2.4 billion adherents. Its impact on world history and culture is immense. The origins of Gnosticism are obscure, with some scholars disputing its precise relationship to Christianity. Proto-orthodox Christian groups considered it a heresy, but modern scholars link it to Jewish sectarian milieus and early Christian sects. Gnosticism was widespread within early Christianity until it was expelled by proto-orthodox communities in the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE. Some scholars differentiate between 'gnosis' (first-century ideas) and 'gnosticism' (a coherent movement in the 2nd century). No gnostic texts clearly predate Christianity, though the Nag Hammadi Library contains older Hermetic teachings. Gnosticism encompasses various religious systems and beliefs rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition. It held that emanations from a single God created the material world and that humans carry a divine spark. Gnosticism is dualistic, sharply dividing the superior spiritual world from the inferior material world, with special hidden knowledge (gnosis) allowing transcendence. Shinto, a religious tradition native to Japan, was initially an informal collection of beliefs and mythologies. The term 'Shinto' dates to the 6th century CE, connecting ancient Japanese customs with modern life. Its primary focus is the native belief in 'kami' and interaction through public shrines, with over 80,000 shrines in Japan. Traditional Japanese dress, dance, and ritual are rooted in Shinto customs. Shinto is unique as a reflection of Japanese identity, and its observance is not limited to self-identified religious adherents. While only a small percentage identifies with a Shinto sect, a much larger proportion visits Shinto shrines. Islam, a monotheistic religion like Christianity and Judaism, traces its roots to Adam and Abraham. It teaches that Allah is the only god and Muhammad is his messenger, delivering revelations (the Quran) around 600 CE. Islam rapidly proliferated through the Middle East, centered around Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem. It has created both internal conflicts (wars of succession) and spiritual unity in the Arab world, leading to the division between Sunni and Shia sects. Today, Islam is the dominant faith in large parts of the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and North Africa, with over 1.6 billion adherents, making it the second-largest religion globally.

The video emphasizes the importance of understanding the biocosmological origins and subsequent institutionalization of religion for a comprehensive analysis. It points out a major 'hiccup' or anomaly in the mainstream academic timeline concerning the Younger Dryas period (12,800 to 11,600 years ago). Academically, this period marks a rapid warming and sudden partial melting of ice sheets after the last Ice Age. Author Graham Hancock, a proponent of the Younger Dryas impact hypothesis, suggests a comet strike 12,800 years ago caused a global disaster that lasted 1,300 years, wiping out a prehistoric high civilization and leaving survivors to preserve knowledge. He notes that the re-emergence of civilization, including megalithic architecture and agriculture at Göbekli Tepe, coincides with the end of the Younger Dryas. Zecharia Sitchin, in his 1998 book 'The Cosmic Code,' also described a great deluge around 11,000 BCE (13,000 years ago), attributing it to the proximity of the planet Nibiru. His interpretation of Sumerian tablets, including Enki warning Utnapishtim (Sumerian Noah), aligns chronologically with the Younger Dryas event. Both Hancock and Sitchin, despite differing causes, agree that a high civilization existed prior to this event and that a global catastrophe reset civilization. When civilization restarted after the Younger Dryas, humanity moved to city centers and developed complex pantheons. The natural spirituality inherent in humans was, according to the video, 'usurped and co-opted by an external force.' This marks the point where religion became a tool,, and the video ponders for whom this tool was intended. Past videos from the 'Archive' (presumably the channel producing this video) have explored how religious parallels across ancient cultures (Egypt, India, Mesoamerica, Greece) suggest potential extraterrestrial origins. This leads to the conclusion that religion has been used over millennia to manipulate people for the benefit of a select few. The video highlights how religious leaders often perpetuated the idea that kings and emperors were divinely ordained, making rebellion against them blasphemous, thereby using religion for social control. It argues that organized religion manipulates masses, twisting the simple message of being a 'good person' for selfish ambitions, greed, and power. Considering the Ancient Astronaut Hypothesis, which suggests Homo sapiens resulted from genetic modification, the video questions if this modification instilled or amplified selfish ambitions and lust for power from the Anunnaki. It posits that the Anunnaki seemed to possess negative human emotions and that humanity inherited these. As such, the natural spirituality of Homo sapiens would have been a means to control a growing population, making it a viable explanation for the original repurposing of religion by another planetary race, and subsequently by humans after the Younger Dryas. The video then briefly introduces the Silurian Hypothesis, which assesses modern science's ability to detect evidence of prior advanced civilizations millions of years ago. A 2018 paper by Adam Frank and Gavin Schmidt explored detecting industrial civilizations in the geological record. They concluded that direct evidence (like artifacts) would be rare due to fossilization rates and geological activity, but indirect evidence (chemical anomalies, isotope ratios, plastics, nuclear waste) might be found. They also suggest artifacts on the Moon or Mars would be easier to find. The video concludes by suggesting that mainstream academic paradigms have significant 'gaps' that can be filled by exploring alternative theories, asserting that the history of religion is intertwined with the history of government, law, art, science, civilization, and potentially extraterrestrial intervention.