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SUMMARY OF TIMELINE
This Timeline traces the Origin of all Religions from Animism to Shamanism to Poly-theism to Mono-theism to A-theism.
Shows Mono-theism to be rare (3 out of 12), and,
no god religions, including A-theism to be most common (9 out of 12) .
Globally (in 2017) 16% (850 million people) accepted that there is no god in the human condition. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/12/06/10-facts-about-atheists/ -
500
SIKHISM (Not God)
Beliefs articulated in sacred Vedic scriptures, includes faith and meditation on the not creator, divine unity and equality of all humankind, engaging in selfless service, striving for justice for the benefit and prosperity of all and honest conduct and livelihood while living a householder’s life, i.e not reclusive life. -
1200
SHINTOISM (No God -- is like Animism)
Kami (spirits) exist everywhere, Indigenous Japanese religion re-introduced as substitute for Buddhism
Emphasis on purity and cleanliness, no specific moral code. -
1500
TAOISM (No God)
No God, Yin-Yang & “wu wei” (action without intention) “I Ching” text goal to prolong life = “The Way”. -
CHRISTIANITY & ISLAM (1 God)
Islam appeared few 100 years after Christianity. Both accept revealed truth of god’s word in a text, both belief in after life in heaven, each has multiple sub-set denominations. -
BUDDHISM (No God)
No God, overcoming suffering and the cycle of death and rebirth, either by the attainment of Nirvana or through the path of Buddha-hood. -
CONFUCIANISM (No God)
No God, importance of the family and social harmony, rather than on an otherworldly source of spiritual values, the core of Confucianism is humanistic. (aka Ruism) -
JUDAISM (1 God)
Precursor to Christianity, accepts revealed truth of god’s word in a text (the Covenant), God is concerned about people, will revive dead at some time in future, is mystical as it involves everyday personal experiences of God via His manifestations. -
Jainism (No God)
No God, referring to the path of victory in crossing over life’s stream of rebirths by destroying karma through an ethical and spiritual life. -
ZOROASTRIANISM ( 1 God)
One God, Fire ceremony, Good & Evil & free choice introduced.
Parsi, Zarathustra, influenced Judaism, Christianity, Islam
Avesta text possibly older than Vedas, both use similar words belief in an immanent self-creating universe with consciousness as its special attribute and referred to as Ahura Mazda -
POLY-THEISM (Many Gods)
Spirits become many specific gods,
early example: Vedic religions in India and many others, Egypt, Sumerian, Greek, Roman, Norse, Yoruba, Aztec, etc. -
SHAMANISM (Specific Spirits)
Belief that shamans, with a connection to the other-world, have the power to heal the sick, communicate with spirits, and escort souls of the dead to the afterlife. Shaman reaches altered states of consciousness in order to perceive and interact with a spirit world and channel these transcendental energies into this world. Training generally takes years. -
ANIMISM (Many Spirits)
Poly-Spiritism (Spirits everywhere)
“idea of pervading life and will in nature” (Taylor, 1871 Primitive Culture). The belief that objects, places and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence. Potentially, animism perceives all things—animals, plants, rocks, rivers, weather systems, human handiwork and perhaps even words—as animated and alive. Is a pre, unorganized religion (Taylor Ibid). -
Period: to
ALL RELIGION ORIGINS 40,000 years ago to present (2020)
Traces the Origin of all religions from Animism to Shamanism to Poly-theism to Mono-theism to A-theism. Shows Mono-theism to be rare compared to other religions and A-theism to be most common.
Globally (in 2017) 16% (850,000 people) accepts that there is no god in the human condition. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/12/06/10-facts-about-atheists/