The Great Ancient Religions of the World

Of the many religions, belief systems, mythologies, and traditions of the world, there are a few whose roots go deepest in time. I refer to these as the Great Ancient Religions of the World, as they have proven to be the oldest known religions of our species.

The Great Ancient Religions were the first to be recorded, and the oldest to be crystallized in both written and memory form. They also have the longest history, many surviving to this day.

They are:

• Sumerian Religion
• Ancient Egyptian Religion
• Vedic Religion
• Zoroastrian Religion
• Hebrew Religion
• Ancient Greek Religion
• Celtic Religion
• Norse Religion
• Mayan and Aztec Religion

They are distinct not just by their age, but by their influence on the world. They are the dominate the religions of the world — the ancient religions themselves, or else their descendants — and have done so from the dawn of history.

While Sumerian Religion does not exist today (at least in that it is not practiced) its descendants do. Hebrew Tradition retains influences from its Sumerian progenitor to this day, which are found in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam — the Abrahamic traditions.

Vedic Religion is alive and well, both in the many derivations of Hinduism, but in Buddhism as well. Buddhism grew from the same Vedic roots as Hinduism, and spread through East Asia, supplanting traditional beliefs throughout Asia, like animistic Shintoism of Japan.

The Most Ancient Religions

• Sumerian Religion — The religion of the Sumerians and Akkadians is the oldest documented in the entire world. Sumerian Religion was preserved for us on clay tablets for over 4000 years, and provides a time capsule for the beliefs systems, myths and legends of the Sumerian and Akkadian people. This religion set the archetype for all other religions that developed in Mesopotamia, including that of the Babylonians, Assyrians, Phoenicians, and even the Israelites.
• Vedic Religion —
• Ancient Egyptian Religion —
• Zoroastrian Religion —
• Hebrew Religion —
• Ancient Greek Religion
• Celtic Religion
• Norse Religion
• Mayan and Aztec Religion

The Importance Of Tribal Religions

While (almost) all of the religions that I have listed above emerged in western Eurasia (but potentially all of them) and spread to every corner of the globe, I do not forget the traditional beliefs of the native peoples.

African traditions, Native American traditions, traditional myths, legends, and belief systems of the Pacific Islands, as well as Shintoism of Japan — and all those bodies of tradition like these, often supplanted by the so-called ‘Great Ancient Religions’ — their value is as intrinsic.

The main distinction is one of crystallization, canonization, preservation, or coherent breadth. These religions represent an extensive nexus of religions that are similar, that are connected, and which spread through the world. They share much in common, and a deep history, thus must be considered together.