Over the last few thousand years, these religious groups have shaped the course of history and. Where to see some of the world s oldest and most interesting maps. Worlds oldest religion oldest religion in the world. It is believed by followers of this religion that the universe goes through many phases of preservation, creation, and dissolution. Worldwide, approximately 1 billion people follow hinduism. Apr 21, 2015 map created by reddit user scolbert08 the incredibly detailed map of the world s religions above, was created by reddit user scolbert08. The world s principal religions and spiritual traditions may be classified into a small number of major groups, although this is by no means a uniform practice.
The religion was officially founded by moses, although jewish history can be traced back to abraham, who is considered to be the ancestor of the jewish people. Nov 07, 2014 the oldest known world map is the babylonian map of the world known as the imago mundi. Incredibly detailed map of the worlds religions brilliant maps. Wikipedia the pyramid texts are known as one of the oldest religious texts in the world.
The oldest recorded religion in the world is hinduism, which is speculated to have come into existence between 3000 and 1500 b. The bulk of the human religious experience predates written history. Jul 14, 2015 hinduism, buddhism, christianity, judaism, and islam are five of the biggest religions in the world. The asiapacific region also is home to most of the worlds muslims 62%. The egyptian religion can also be considered the oldest religion. What is the oldest surviving religion in the world. Dna study finds aboriginal australians worlds oldest. This theory began in the 18th century with the goal of recognizing the relative levels of civility in societies which in many modern cultures would be considered offensive. Christianity has spread to all five inhabited continents over the course of its history. Worldwide, more than eightinten people identify with a religious group. If everyone alive in 2010 lined up from youngest to oldest, the person in the middle the median would be 28 years old.
Religion has been a factor of the human experience throughout history, from pre historic to. Animated map shows how religion spread around the world. Animated map shows how religion spread around the world youtube. Explore religious beliefs around the world through an interactive map produced by wgbh.
Judaism is the oldest of the three monotheistic abrahamic faiths, with the other two religions being christianity and islam. The hindu religion developed during the same time frame as the mesopotamian and egyptian civilizations and is the third largest religion in the world as of 2014. Hinduism, buddhism, christianity, judaism, and islam are five of the biggest religions in the world. John bellaimey explains the intertwined histories and cultures of hinduism, judaism, buddhism, christianity and islam. The global religious landscape pew research center pew forum. Sep 08, 2015 so i am trying to determine the origin of religion, or oldest religion in the world known to man. This principle of order is also paramount in the world s oldest religion still being practiced today. During the 5th or 6th dynasties of the old kingdom in ancient egypt, the text was carved on to the walls and within the sarcophagi of the saqqara pyramids. World map colorcoded to denote religion affiliations of the majority. Dravidianism is estimated to have been practiced around 6,000 to 3,000 bce and as such predates the sumerian, egyptian, and babylonian cultures. Vedic hinduism and zoroastrianism are considered the oldest organized religions. Animism is another religion that dates back for more than 50,000 years. Arguably the world s first monotheistic faith, its one of the oldest religions still in. An unprecedented dna study has found evidence of a single human migration out of africa and confirmed that aboriginal australians are the world s oldest civilization.
Let us introduce the top 5 religions in the world based on its popularity. Australian aboriginal beliefs probably go back 60,000 or more. Religion in the ancient world ancient history encyclopedia. Many answers here call hinduism the oldest surviving religion. Summary table of world religions v20091015 monotheist panentheist nontheist1 zoroastrianism judaism christianity islam sikhism bahai native spirituality hinduism buddhism pictogram the golden rule happiness unto him through whom happiness comes to others. The first of the oldest surviving religious texts, the pyramid texts, was composed in ancient egypt. The sculpture has also been interpreted as anthropomorphic, giving human characteristics to an animal, although it may have represented a deity. Dec 07, 2011 she discovered mankinds oldest known ritual in botswana. Parliament of world religions, chicago, brought the ancient philosophies of.
Hinduism has been explained with its origins, beliefs, way of life, sacred texts, gods and goddesses, holiest things, interesting facts and hinduism. The foundation for all other abrahamic religions, and the oldest monotheism still around though by no means the first that is alleged to be a variation on ancient egyptian faith called atenism, which disappeared in the 14th century bce, judaism originated in the kingdoms of israel and judah, which first appeared in the levant around the 9th century bce. Different religions may or may not contain various elements. This is probably because hinduism has the oldest recorded roots, which lie in dravidianism.
Religions of southeast asia northern illinois university. Where to see some of the worlds oldest and most interesting maps. From cave drawings and babylonian clay tablets to stone carvings and papyrus text, here are some of the worlds oldest maps in no particular order. It was during this time that the sacred texts of hinduism, known as the vedas, were written by the aryans and revealed to the world. Oct 08, 2019 zoroastrianism is an ancient persian religion that may have originated as early as 4,000 years ago. The interactive opens to show a map that displays the religions that. Christianity is the top religion in the list of most popular religions in the world. Mar 23, 2018 this principle of order is also paramount in the world s oldest religion still being practiced today. Arguably the worlds first monotheistic faith, its one of the oldest religions still in. They consider this the word of god and the basis of the eternal religion, sanatana dharma.
Jul 18, 2017 where to see some of the worlds oldest and most interesting maps. A babylonian world map, known as the imago mundi, is commonly dated to the 6th century bce. It shows what the biggest religion is by census area in each country, along with its level of support. It is considered one of the oldest religions in the world and can. Though i dont completely disagree with them, i dont agree either.
Whilst the world map figure 1 reveals interesting patterns of religion, like all. There are many religions that were way before christianity that came along about 2000 years ago. I believe among others, that christianity is the oldest religion known to man. These existential questions are central to the five major world religions and thats not all that connects these faiths. Apr 17, 2020 the oldest forms of worship in the world are ancestor worship, shamanism, and animism, which are thought to date back to at least around 300,000 bce. Permission is granted to copy, distribute andor modify this document under the terms of the gnu free documentation license, version 1.
We need always to recognize that religion can be looked at in two ways, from outside and inside. Read all information about religions of the world with answers helpful in recruitment or banking exams. Aug 05, 2016 hinduism is the oldest religion of the world. This map, found in southern iraq in a city called sippar, shows a small bit of the known world as the babylonians knew it centuries ago. A lack of written records results in most of the knowledge of prehistoric religion being derived from archaeological records and other indirect. Despite the popularity of its great classics the i ching and the tao te ching, the specific practices of taoism have not been promulgated in america with much success. Most of the trapped people are members of the yazidi religion, one of iraqs oldest minorities. World religion map showing various religions prevailing in the world. Responsible for guidance and medical treatment the shaman defined religious rites and practices for his tribe. It seems from searching that hinduism is the oldest religion still being practiced, but i am curious if anyone knows if there was a religion, or group of religions, that preceded it that may no longer be practiced, but did exist. The hindu religion follows the divinity of the four vedas which is considered the oldest scripture in the world.
Map created by reddit user scolbert08 the incredibly detailed map of the world s religions above, was created by reddit user scolbert08. Introduction the subject of religion has as many beliefs, feelings, and perceptions around it as there are people on the planet. But they can be found in many international cities and have become an especially strong religious presence in the united kingdom and canada. The wisest and usually the oldest of a tribe would be appointed the shaman. Use the world map and label where in the world these six religions are practices. The oldest religion in the world is the worship of the one true god, as stated in genesis 4. Worldwide percentage of adherents by religion, 2012. This map of world religion throws light on different religions being followed in the world. The aurignacian lowenmensch figurine, the oldest known zoomorphic animalshaped sculpture in the world and one of the oldest known sculptures in general, was made. Religion global history timeline 1 min 30 sec youtube. Hinduism known to adherents as sanatan dharma, eternal order, thought to have been founded as early as 5500 bce but certainly by c.
Back in school we where told that judaism is the oldest practiced religion in the world but i was wondering what other ones are also as old or older then judaism, also they said buddhism is one the oldest practiced religion in the world. Experts indicate hinduism to be the oldest organized religion in the world that dates back to 2,000 bce. Religion has been a factor of the human experience throughout history, from prehistoric to modern times. Religion is a social cultural system of designated behaviors and practices, morals, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that relates humanity to supernatural, transcendental, or spiritual elements. However, there is no scholarly consensus over what precisely constitutes a religion. In a way, everyone has their own religion, even if they subscribe to a religion that many others do. While judaism has many important and sacred texts, its most. The oldest known religion is shamanism, examples of this date back to when neanderthals still accompanied us on the planet. To see the full resolution version just click on it. No one knows what the first religion was in the world. Religion isnt an event spanning a few seconds or months there is no specific date to many almost every religio. May 27, 2007 most reference books list hinduism as the oldest world religion. Egyptian religion is also considered to be one of the oldest religions.
Written history the age of formal writing is only c. The oldest religions that are still widely practiced are hinduism, judaism, buddhism, taoism, and jainism. Global adherents of the worlds 19 distinct major religions pdf. At one point in history, zoroastrianism was one of the most powerful religions in the world and served as the official religion of persia from 600 bce to 650 bce.
Judaism is one of the oldest monotheistic religions in the. They were forced to flee to mount sinjar in the iraqi northwest. Maps the world religions diercke international atlas. The oldest known religion in the whole world that is known to man is hinduism. Sikhs are not ubiquitous worldwide in the way that adherents of larger world religions are, and they remain primarily an ethnic religion.
Zoroastrians believe in one god called ahura mazda and contrary to popular belief, are not fire worshippers they believe that fire represents gods light or wisdom. Zoroastrianism is an ancient persian religion that may have originated as early as 4,000 years ago. The map as reconstructed by eckhard unger shows babylon on the euphrates, surrounded by a circular landmass showing assyria, urartu and several cities, in turn surrounded by a bitter river, with eight outlying regions nagu arranged around it in the shape of triangles, so as to form a star. The worlds principal religions and spiritual traditions may be classified into a small number of.
The world is full of people following different religions and beliefs and from which some religions came into existence only a few years ago while on the other hand, some popular religions have existed for the thousands of years. The outside point of view means identifying some basic factsfor example, the history, teachings, practices, and organization of a religion. A global poll informs that 59% world population is religious, 23% are not religious and % are atheists. Although often viewed as a polytheistic faith, hinduism is actually henotheistic. Animated map shows how religion spread around the world duration. There are lots of religions and beliefs in the whole world. So whether youve found the fascinating world of mythology for yourself or would like to share it with a dear friend, youll find the best books for mythology and the studies of the world s oldest, most fantastic belief systems only at new world library.
159 834 1026 269 1678 1071 504 297 34 1111 573 1677 244 1574 980 768 741 452 1434 1280 1144 505 1361 525 1590 1273 110 1607 525 864 866 1495 1454 446 727 1338 693 1184 677 819 797