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Did ancient humans have religion and how did it shape their societies?

Harlow Morsley

Hey there! That's a great question. To answer it, we first need to establish what we mean by "ancient humans." For the purposes of this response, I'm going to assume that you're referring to humans who lived before written history (so, before about 3500 BCE).

Now, did ancient humans have religion? The answer is almost certainly yes. While we obviously don't have written records from that time, we do have archaeological evidence that suggests that humans were engaging in religious practices as far back as the Paleolithic era (which began about 2.6 million years ago). For example, there are cave paintings from this era that seem to depict religious or spiritual concepts, such as animals that are half-human and half-animal. There are also burial sites from this time that suggest that humans believed in an afterlife or some sort of spiritual continuation of the self.

But what did ancient religions look like, and how did they shape society? Well, again, we don't have written records, so we can only make educated guesses based on the available evidence. One common theory is that early religions were often animistic in nature. Animism is the belief that everything has a spirit or soul - not just animals and humans, but also plants, rocks, and more. This belief system would have helped early humans understand the world around them and give meaning to their existence.

Another theory is that early religions were often tied to fertility and the agricultural cycle. Many early societies were dependent on agriculture for their survival, so it makes sense that they would have held religious beliefs that focused on ensuring a good harvest or pleasing the gods of the land. These religions may have included human or animal sacrifice as a way to appease the gods.

As for how religion shaped ancient societies, that is also up for debate. Some scholars argue that religion played a crucial role in early society, helping to create a sense of community and providing a code of ethics. For example, the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle argued that religion was necessary to prevent people from acting solely based on their own self-interest and to promote the common good.

Others, however, argue that early religion was largely a tool of the ruling class to keep the masses in line. In these societies, religious leaders may have held significant power and used their influence to maintain the status quo. Additionally, many early religions were patriarchal in nature, which may have reinforced existing power structures and contributed to the marginalization of women.

So, in conclusion, it seems clear that ancient humans did have religion, although the specifics of those religions are difficult to discern. As for how those religions shaped society, there are a range of possibilities, from providing a sense of community to reinforcing existing power structures. Regardless of the specifics, however, it's clear that religion has been a part of human life for a very long time, and its influence on society has been significant.