What is the oldest religion?

[Alt Thinker]

If we are talking about organized religions that exist to this day and have continuity throughout history, it could be any of the following:
-Judaism
-Zoroastrianism
-Santana Dharma
-Jain Dharma

We likely are not.

The OP inconveniently inquires as to what might be the FIRST religion...

...so, try again.

The Australian Dreamtime religion set may be the first religion and is still practiced today, although hardly organized.

 

[outhouse]

The Australian Dreamtime religion set may be the first religion and is still practiced today, although hardly organized.

While somewhat true. We dont know if it is the first.

The oldest versions do not reflect the original versions.

All beliefs and practices evolve for all religions

 

[Alt Thinker]

While somewhat true. We dont know if it is the first.

The oldest versions do not reflect the original versions.

All beliefs and practices evolve for all religions

The Australian religions vary significantly from each other but they all have one unique factor in common: the Dreamtime. This points strongly to a common origin. How long ago that point was is impossible to tell. Apparently some significant period of time has passed since then, long enough to spread throughout the (admittedly small) continent and spawn many variations. Christianity is widespread and has many variations but it also exists in an environment of rapid communication. There is no telling how long ago the original Australian religion started or how it has branched and evolved. Or what if anything it supplanted. But it seems a strong contender for first and oldest.

 

[roger1440]

I wonder when the transition occurred from favoring wide hips to narrow hips?

There was never transition. Studies show most men prefer women with a .7 waist to hips ratio. This means the circumference of the waist is 70% of the hips. Marilyn Monroe had a near perfect figure judging from western man’s idea of female attractiveness.

For The Last Time: What Size Was Marilyn Monroe?

Venus Figurines of the European Paleolithic: Symbols of Fertility or Attractiveness?

Shakira - Hips Don't Lie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUT5rEU6pqM

 

[outhouse]

. But it seems a strong contender for first and oldest.

11000 I thought.

They have petroglyph of the rainbow serpent I believe.

Ill have to agree, it fits the bill for how little is known.

 

[AlphaAlex115]

My brother says cavemen painted..

 

[Riverwolf]

My brother says cavemen painted..

Is he aware that not all early humans lived in caves?

 

[AlphaAlex115]

Is he aware that not all early humans lived in caves?

Yhes...

 

[roger1440]

My brother says cavemen painted..

Some times now and then I pick up odd jobs painting. I wouldn't call that a religion.

 

[Riverwolf]

Yhes...

K. Just checking, 'cause we don't really call them "cavemen" anymore.

Painting isn't the way we can tell early humans had religious behavior. Venus Figurines, and other artifacts are the primary indicators, last I checked.

That's not to say cave paintings had nothing to do with their religions, of course. Some of them, if I remember correctly, might have been used as a form of initiation.

 

[AlphaAlex115]

there are no obstructions and what i see in the paint is religious and deep

 

[AlphaAlex115]

buamp

 

[Willamena]

there are no obstructions and what i see in the paint is religious and deep

If I may ask, what do you see in the cave paintings?

 

[rusra02]

I actually do not know and was asked this the other day. Is there any definite answer? And when I say religion I don't mean as in one guy thinking ''Yeah there's a man in the sky that controls everything" etc. I mean a religion, that may or may not now be dead, that a moderately large group took part and believed in. My history is terrible so I reaaly have no clue :^)

If one believes the Bible to be a reliable historical document ( and I do), then without question the worship of the true God Jehovah is the oldest religion. Abel was the first one to faithfully worship Jehovah. "By faith Abel offered God a sacrifice of greater worth than that of Cain, and through that faith he received the witness that he was righteous, for God approved his gifts, and although he died, he still speaks through his faith. " (Hebrews 11:4)

 

[Monk Of Reason]

I actually do not know and was asked this the other day. Is there any definite answer? And when I say religion I don't mean as in one guy thinking ''Yeah there's a man in the sky that controls everything" etc. I mean a religion, that may or may not now be dead, that a moderately large group took part and believed in. My history is terrible so I reaaly have no clue :^)

Judaism and Hinduism both go back prior to written history. Though we have good information and evidence of simplistic to complex types of religions based upon misconceptions of nature even prior to homo sapiens.

 

[AlphaAlex115]

If I may ask, what do you see in the cave paintings?

like this goat thing

 

[AlphaAlex115]

Life's boring. Days mix. I mingle. Let's tingle. I love my indifference to MY indifference.

 

[serp777]

probably some form of shamanism elemental Gods, such as the earth God, the wind God, the moon God, etc

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Animism is the oldest religious system and it survives to this day.

 

[serp777]

Animism is the oldest religious system and it survives to this day.

Any evidence to support this?