What is the Oldest Religion in the World?

Some of the oldest religions in the world include Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism.

Religion is a key component in the flourishing of humanity. As conscious beings, it is inevitable for humans to question their origins and the reasons behind their existence. That is why there are still so many long-standing religions practiced today. Some of the oldest religions in the world include Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism.

Brief Introduction of Major Religions in the World

Woman praying by the altar. (Source: Photo by Ben White on Unsplash)

Many cultures around the world are hugely influenced by religion. This is because it shapes many cultural aspects of a community. These include the cultural identities, customs, social classes, and politics of the nation.

The concept of religion is innate to humans. People everywhere believe in the distinction between right and wrong, no matter what creed or religion they choose to believe in. For thousands of years, people have turned to religion for answers to their deepest philosophical and existential questions. Today, it manifests in the form of immense religious sectors and organizations around the globe.

Nevertheless, understanding religion and its significance requires going back in time in search of its roots. Religions all over the world date back thousands of years, some of which were founded as early as the 15th century. Fortunately, many of these oldest religions around the world still exist and are practiced today.

Researchers have concluded that there are five of the oldest major religions practiced by people around the world. These are Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism. Christianity is the largest religion, followed by Islam. Judaism is last on the list as it has the smallest number of congregations around the world today. Each of these religions will be tackled below.

10 Oldest Religions in the World

A group of men holding hands while praying. (Source: Photo by Chichi Onyekanne on Unsplash)

While there are five oldest major religions globally, there are a total of 10 oldest religions that are still practiced by their followers today. Different cultures have upheld the historical customs of each of these religions.

#1 Judaism

Jewish boy and Judaist walking down the street during special events. (Source: Photo by Blake Campbell on Unsplash)

Origin: kingdoms of Israel and Judah around the 9th to 5th century BCE

Founder: Abraham (traditional)

Country/Culture: Israel

Judaism is one of the world's oldest religions, as it began sometime between the 9th to 5th century BCE in Israel. It is considered to be a pillar of all Abrahamic religious groups because it was founded by a historical leader named Abraham, who was born in the ancient city of Ur in Mesopotamia.

Abraham is featured prominently in Jewish scriptures called the Torah because of his obedience to his God. God had ordered that he leave his native land and relocate to Canaan, which is modern-day Palestine. Upon reaching his destination, Abraham taught his descendants the practice of Judaism.

Judaism is known to be one of the oldest monotheistic religions in the world. It believes in the basic idea that there is only one true God, Yahweh. According to the scriptures, Yahweh formed a covenant between Abraham and his people wherein he swore to protect them as long as they stayed faithful. This is where the belief that Jews are the "chosen people" of God came from.

Jesus Christ, known to be the historical founder of Christianity, also practiced Judaism in his youth. Jewish leaders and preachers eventually frowned upon his contradicting teachings that he was the chosen Messiah of their people. Judaistic teachings do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as God because of their firm belief in Yahweh.

Those looking to learn more about Judaism and its origins can do so by exploring the Old City of Jaffa in Israel. A private tour of Tel Aviv and Jaffa Old City will take you around the most important historical spots in Israel. These spots are where the real-life members of the Jewish community lived throughout history. Prices start at US$929 per person.

#2 Zoroastrianism

Old fountain used for Zoroastrianism ceremonies. (Source: Photo by Parastoo Maleki on Unsplash)

Origin: Persia around the 10th to 5th century BCE

Founder: the prophet Zoroaster

Country/Culture: modern-day Iran

Zoroastrianism pre-dates Abrahamic religions like Judaism by a little more than a century, making it the chief pre-Islamic religion practiced in Iran. It was formed around the 10th to 5th century BCE in Persia, which is what we now know as modern-day Iran. It gets its name from its founder, the prophet Zoroaster, also known as Zarathustra. Zoroastrianism evolved into a state religion for the Persian Empire which allowed it to become among the prominent faiths in Iraq, Iran, and India today.

The origin of Zoroastrianism is linked to Yazdanism, a Kurdish religious ideology. Yazdanism is also called the Cult of Angels because of its main belief that the world is protected from evil by seven special angels. It also believes in the existence of the Abrahamic prophets who preach about reincarnation, making it similar to the Islamic religion as well.

Zoroastrianism is a monotheistic religion. Its followers are faithful to the god named Ahura Mazda. The prophet Zoroaster preached about Ahura Mazda's divine revelations, which included the law of Asha. This law upholds the importance of righteousness, goodness, and truth.

Another significant belief of Zoroastrianism is the Faravahar which symbolizes eternity. There is also the importance of fire, as it signifies light and purification. Together, the Faravahar and fire led to the practice of creating a long-burning fire in Zoroastrian temples. It is believed that the god Ahura Mazda gifted such temples to its followers.

Exploring the country of Iran is a great way to learn more about the religion of Zoroastrianism. The Bazehoor Fire Temple is one of the oldest Zoroastrian fire temples still standing in Iran today. It is an important landmark that honors the history and culture of Zoroastrianism. Admission is completely free.

#3 Confucianism

Statue of Confucius. (Source: Photo by Yosuke Ota on Unsplash)

Origin: China around the 6th to 5th century BCE

Founder: Confucius

Country/Culture: China and other parts of Asia

Confucianism is one of the oldest key religions in China. It was founded by a great man named Confucius. While he was mainly known to be a philosopher, he was a teacher and politician as well.

The basic ideas of Confucianism are rooted in humanistic concepts. That is why despite being considered a religion, the practice of Confucianism is deemed to consist more in particular ways of thinking rather than a set of strict practices and traditions. Confucius placed high regard on the philosophical sense of it all, thereby forming the practices today.

Perhaps the main and only spiritual concept of Confucianism is the belief in the coordination between divination, the Lord on High, and Heaven. The spiritual aspect of the religion is speculated to have stemmed from folk practices in ancient China. Evidence of its similarity with ancient Chinese traditions is found in The Analects, which is a physical collection of Confucius' teachings throughout his life.

Today, the teaching of Confucianism has grown to reach other countries in Asia. Since it has no rigid rules like most religions, there are people from other religious sects who like to practice Confucianism on the side as well. It is quite easy to incorporate the philosophies of Confucian teachings into almost any other religion.

People looking to learn more about Confucian history can visit the Confucius Temple in China. Mini-group tours to the temple start at US$75 per person.

#4 Buddhism

Large Buddha statue overlooking the mountains. (Source: Photo by abhijeet ghourav on Unsplash)

Origin: Lumbini around the 6th to 5th century BCE

Founder: Siddhartha Guatama

Country/Culture: modern-day Nepal

Buddhism began with a man named Siddhartha Gautama in the 6th to 5th century BCE, Lumbini, making it one of the oldest religions in the world. He was eventually called Buddha, which is where the term Buddhism came from. Lumbini is what is currently known as modern-day Nepal.

Gautama was the son of a wealthy man, and he grew up like an actual prince in Lumbini. Growing up, Gautama's father made it his goal to protect his son from all pain and suffering. Any person afflicted with sickness or disability was not allowed to be seen by Gautama at all. By the time Gautama was 29 years old, he had gone on an excursion outside of his palace and finally experienced the reality of the world.

Gautama realized the disparity between his sheltered lifestyle and the poverty of the common folk. He was moved to a path of enlightenment and deliberately took a vow of poverty for himself. Eventually, he formed teachings that he applied to his life.

Followers of Buddhism uphold and follow Gautama's teachings up to this day. It is a religion of choosing simplicity over the intricacies of material things. An important symbol in Buddhism is the lotus, which is a flower that grows and thrives despite being planted amongst dirt and filth. Like the lotus, Buddhists believe that they, too, can grow into good people despite coming from unpleasant upbringings and backgrounds.

Those who want to learn more about the origins of Buddhism can visit the Boudhanath Stupa in Nepal. It is an iconic building in Kathmandu that houses a unique iteration of the Buddha. Both tourists and Buddhists are more than welcome to take on a spiritual pilgrimage there. An exclusive tour may be availed for US$55 per person.

#5 Jainism

Old Jainist monk at work. (Source: Photo by Sanjeev Bothra on Unsplash)

Origin: Ganges region around the 8th to 2nd century BCE

Founder: Parshvanatha and Mahavira

Country/Culture: modern-day India

Jainism is a major religion in modern-day India. This is because it originated in the ancient Ganges region on the Indian subcontinent around the 8th to 2nd century BCE. It is one of the world's oldest religions, as it even pre-dates both Confucianism and Buddhism.

Two of the most prominent Jainism leaders are Parshvanatha and Mahavira. They preached about the Tirthankaras, who are known to be powerful teachers of Jainism. These teachers upheld practices of self-discipline and asceticism for their followers. Each Tirthankara has great control over his desire, anger, deceit, and pride. This makes Jainism ideologies overlap with that of Confucianism and Buddhism in terms of valuing the simplicity of everyday life.

Jainism believes that there are two main cycles for every era of human life. The wheel is an important symbol to Jains because it signifies the movement of time. A full movement or rotation of a wheel represents one whole era. The wheel does not stop, as time does not either. It is meant to spin forever. For each half-spin, the world gets a set of 24 Thinkara preachers. Mahavir Swami, who was born in 599 BC, is known to be the last and final Thinkara.

People looking to know more about Jainism can visit the Ranakpur Jain Temple in India. It is a famous historical Jain temple that is visited by many followers of Jainism. Tours to the temple are priced at US$80 per person.

#6 Taoism

Incense burning at a Taoist temple. (Source: Photo by Soyoung Han on Unsplash)

Origin: China around the 6th to 4th century BCE

Founder: Laozi

Country/Culture: China

Taoism gets its name from the term "Tao." It literally translates into "the way," which represents the key ideologies and elements that stand out in the world. Today, it is among the world's oldest religions.

The religion of Taoism is presumed to have been started by a man named Lao Tzu (Laozi). He was believed to have lived around the same time as Confucius during the 6th to 4th century BCE in China. As Taoism grew to co-exist with Confucianism and Buddhism, its leaders fought to keep it alive by reiterating the importance of its innate traditions. The traditional practices served as an edge against the free-thinking and rule-free nature of Confucianism and Buddhism.

While the early Taoists were mainly the wealthy and the upper class, Taoism eventually reached the middle class and the poor as its teachings became more accessible. Laozi published a work called the Tao Te Ching which contained his teachings and beliefs that his followers still revere today. It also contained several important concepts that eventually helped change the cultural and spiritual landscape in China back then. These include the I Ching, which is a system of divination in ancient China, and the Yellow Emperor, who was a powerful being that ruled the empire.

The renowned concept of Yin and Yang originated from the religion of Taoism. It signified the ever-changing state of the world. After every yin, there is always a yang that follows.

Another famous concept of Taoism is the crane. A crane symbolizes perfection. Every Taoist must strive to improve oneself in order to achieve or get closer to perfection. To do this, the idea of self-restraint and self-discipline is another key concept that a Taoist must practice.

People who are curious to learn more about the origins and practices of Taoism can visit Taoist temples in China. The China Dayi Heming Mountain Temple is highly recommended as it is known to be the cradle of early Taoism. Entrance to the temple is free of charge for all visitors.

#7 Christianity

Crucified Jesus Christ. (Source: Photo by Matt Marzorati on Unsplash)

Origin: Nazareth around 30 AD

Founder: Jesus Christ

Country/Culture: mainly European and Middle Eastern countries

The most prominent oldest religion in the world is Christianity. As mentioned, it was founded by Jesus Christ. Jesus was born and raised a Jew in Nazareth. He grew up performing traditional Jewish practices and abiding by its laws. However, upon becoming an adult, the Jewish community eventually shunned him because of his opposing claims that he was the son of their god, Yahweh.

Unlike the Jews, Christians believed that there are three persons in one God. There is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, known as the Trinity. Jesus Christ believed himself to be God the Son, making him both human and god on earth.

Other teachings that Jesus Christ preached to his followers included the importance of forgiveness, faithfulness, and kindness. He taught about the significance of giving alms to the poor and forgiving sinners of their wrongs. Jesus also summarized the Ten Commandments of the prophet Moses, who is also a prominent figure in Judaism, into two main rules: to love God and love thy neighbor.

Jesus' forward-thinking ideologies attracted many people to convert to Christianity in ancient Israel. This was a huge disappointment to other Jews who found Jesus' claims of being Yahweh's son to be a heresy of the Jewish faith. Eventually, Jesus Christ was tortured and crucified to his death when he was around 30 years old.

A key belief in Christianity is that Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day after his death. His resurrection is viewed as a process of redemption for all of God's people since his death was meant to be the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the world.

After Jesus Christ was believed to have ascended into heaven, his 12 apostles continued his ministry. The apostle Paul, in particular, was known to become the first Pope. His disciples also created new gospels, which eventually made their way into The New Testament of the Christian bible.

Today, Christianity is the biggest religion in the whole world. And while Catholicism is the largest denomination, there are many other Christian denominations that exist worldwide. These include:

Catholicism, which includes the Catholic Church and other breakaway Catholic churches around the world;

Protestantism, which includes Lutheranism, Baptist churches, Methodist churches, Quakers, Seventh-day Adventists, and Presbyterian churches;

Eastern Orthodoxy, which includes Greek Orthodox churches, Old Believers, and other orthodox denominations in Eastern Europe and Asia;

Oriental Orthodoxy, which includes the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, and other orthodox churches in Africa;

Anglicanism, which includes the Church of England, Anglican Communion churches, and other independent Anglican denominations;

Restorationism, which includes the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormonism), Jehovah's Witnesses, and Iglesia ni Cristo;

Non-Trinitarianism, which includes the Church of Christ, Scientist;

Church of the East, which includes the Assyrian Church of the East.

People who want to learn more about Christianity can visit The Way of The Cross in Jerusalem. It details the different hardships that Jesus Christ went through before his death. There are 14 stations that visitors can appreciate during the tour. Day tours of Jerusalem start at US$137 per person.

#8 Shintoism

Shinto shrine in Japan. (Source: Photo by AXP Photography on Unsplash)

Origin: north of Kyushu, Japan, around 3rd century BCE – 8th century CE

Founder: evolved from the Yayoi folk religion

Country/Culture: Japan

Shintoism is believed to have originated in early Japan from the 3rd century BCE until the 8th century CE, making it one of the oldest religions in the world. It has significant influences from the Yayoi religion, which was an animistic religion by the native people of north Kyushu in Japan.

Being rooted in animistic traditions has led the main concept of Shintoism to be that the powerful energies we experience are rooted in nature and the natural world. Followers of this religion uphold the importance of indigenous and natural landscapes in their communities.

A supernatural spirit named Kami is believed to live in large waterfalls, mountains, and forests. Because of this, various shrines and landmarks are put up all around Japan to honor it.

Other ideologies that surround Shintoism include concepts of harmony, purity, and familial love. Followers of Shintoism believe that all parts of nature symbolize harmony and contain special spirits that contribute to the grand scheme of things. Thus, it is vital to always respect nature.

And despite being an inherently Japanese religion, Shintoism also received a mix of influences from other Asian religions. These include Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. This is because it co-existed at around the same time as these three major religions.

People who want to learn more about Shintoism should definitely visit the Tenno Jinja Shinto shrine in Japan. It offers a peak into how the followers of Shintoism honor the value of the natural world. Another famous Shinto shrine to visit is the Ashikaga Orihime-jinja Shinto shrine, also located in Japan. It has a colorful gate that draws many tourists inside for its teaching.

#9 Islam

Group of Muslims praying together. (Source: Photo by Levi Meir Clancy on Unsplash)

Origin: Mecca around 610 AD

Founder: Abraham

Country/Culture: modern-day Saudi Arabia and other parts of the Middle East

Islam is among the world's oldest religions. The origin of Islam shares similarities with the origin of both Judaism and Christianity. Abraham is their main common thread, as he was the father of all Abrahamic religions. It was believed that Abraham was the first prophet of their God, Allah.

Allah was believed to have relayed his messages to various prophets throughout history, with Abraham being the first and Muhammad being the last. Their belief in the prophets is what allows their teachings to overlap heavily with that of Christian and Jewish scriptures.

In fact, Islam places high importance on the archangel Gabriel who is also featured in the Christian bible. The angel Gabriel was known to have given Allah's message to the prophet Muhammad. It is because of this that Muhammad is also seen as the final prophet of Allah to be given his divine instructions.

The term Islam itself means "submission to God's will." This is why one of the main ideologies of Islam is to always put Allah first. Any act that they do will be judged by Allah first. They must always submit to whatever Allah asks them to do.

There is also the belief in Jihad. Jihad is the idea of struggle when faced with various spiritual, emotional, and physical hardships. Muslims must be strong and defend their faith no matter what hardships or challenges come their way.

If Christians have the Bible and Jews have the Torah, then Muslims have the Quran. It is a sacred book that contains all of Muhammad's teachings and beliefs. Quran describes the Five Pillars of Islam: shahada, salat, zakat, sawm, and hajj. These are the five concepts that drive the traditions of Islam and help Muslims strengthen their faith in Allah.

Like Christianity, there are also various types of denominations in Islam. Two major branches of the Islamic faith are Shiite Islam and Sunni Islam. The main reason for the separation of these two groups was the result of determining the true successor of Muhammad. Followers of Shiite Islam believe that the direct descendants of Muhammad should take over and lead the faith. On the other hand, Sunni Islam followers believe that the people must choose amongst themselves for a worthy successor.

People who want to know more about the origins and traditions of Islam should visit the Masjid Al Haram in Makkah (also spelled "Mecca"), Saudi Arabia. It is a large mosque that many Muslims visit during their own pilgrimages. A day city tour of Mecca includes a visit to this mosque. Tours start at US$669 per person.

#10 Sikhism

Two Sikh men standing in front of a Sikh temple. (Source: Photo by Laurentiu Morariu on Unsplash)

Origin: Punjab, approximately 500 years ago, at around 1500 CE

Founder: Guru Nanak

Country/Culture: modern-day India and Pakistan

Sikhism is an Indian religion that began in the area of Punjab around 500 years ago, making it another one of the oldest religions globally. It was founded by a teacher called Guru Nanak. The term Guru means "teacher."

Guru Nanak taught the followers of Sikhism about the importance of one God. Only one God protects, defends, and guides all humans. This is why it is vital that all Sikhs prioritize God in both their minds and hearts as they live their lives.

Sikhism's core belief is that God sees all humans equally. It does not matter whether one is rich or poor. Each person is judged and loved the same way. The best way to honor God's love is to be kind to all people, work passionately, and be generous to the poor. At the guidance of these ideas, the community of faithful Sikh women and men is called a "Community of the Pure."

Apart from the simple core beliefs of Sikhism, it also upholds various important rituals and practices today. One is an initiation ritual that consists of avoiding four Sikh cardinal sins: adultery, cutting one's own hair, smoking tobacco, and eating Halal meat. Practicing any of these prohibited acts equates to committing severe sins. Sinners are required to confess in order for their sins to be pardoned.

The sacred text of Sikhism is known as the Guru Granth Sahib. The text is called a "guru" since it contains teachings that are vital to the religion of Sikhism. People who study from it gain an experience similar to having an actual teacher as they read through the compiled preaching of prominent Sikh gurus. One's shoes must be taken off when reading, holding, or within the vicinity of the Guru Granth Sahib.

The Guru Granth Sahib is also placed on an elevated area of a Gurdwara, which is the sacred place of worship of the Sikhs. It directly translates to "gateway to the Guru" because of this. Followers of Sikhism visit their Gurdwara every Sunday and partake in a meal called langar at the end of the service.

People interested in learning more about Sikhism should explore the Gurdwara Kila Sri Anandgarh Sahib in India. It is an iconic gurdwara that many Sikhs visit. Admission is free of charge. They can also check out the Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib, known for its proximity to a pond.

The World's Oldest Religions

Despite their differences in origins, founders, and traditions, all of the world's oldest religions also share many similarities. Their core beliefs in upholding truth, goodness, generosity, and empathy are what make them not all too different from each other. Each of the oldest religions has a common theme of kindness that attracts many followers to continue practicing them today.

Whether a person chooses to practice Christianity, Islam, Judaism, or another religion, the mere fact that they decide to believe in something is enough proof of their humanity and sincerity. It is human nature to search outward and find meaning in the world around us. Meaning is what drives people to be good. And it is this goodness that fosters community and love that ultimately pushes each person to improve their life.

As long as there are humans, there will always be religion. And as long as people are motivated to participate in religious practices, there will always be kindness in the world.

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