In this article, we want to discuss the relationship between history and religion and the question How is religion related to history?
Join us if you also care about history and want to learn more about historical, cultural, or religious issues.
What is religion in sociology
Do you think religion is a belief system that includes a set of cultural values and ritual practices and a source of identity?
Is religion an attempt to explain our place in the universe? Does religion play an appropriate role in our daily lives?
Well, as you know, the answer to these questions depends on a community’s time and place and culture and customs. So we can say that the answers to these questions will differ according to time and place. Even if different social groups ask these questions and people answer them, it affects the type of answer.
Religion in ancient times is like “mythology” today.
In ancient times, religion consisted of regular rituals based on belief in supernatural beings. In their opinion, supernatural beings were the world’s creators and continued to preserve it.
But in general, religion is a tool to get rid of ugly and sinful acts in a forced way. People with religious identities see religion as a choice and a means of control.
To learn more about religion and the reason for its emergence, we must say that some religions played an influential role in ancient history. For example, they were the most important force for creating knowledge, art, and technology in ancient times.
Read more : god’s creation quotes
What is the origin and history of the religion?
The history of religion is a written report in which people wrote their feelings, thoughts, and religious beliefs.
So, with the invention of writing around 3200 BC, the history of religion also began. (Ansari, 2004)
Did writing play a significant role in the standardization of religious texts? We must say yes, regardless of the time and place of writing. It made the prayers and divine commandments easier to memorize. Before the invention of handwriting and writing, the texts of the Bible were transmitted orally to children for centuries. (Harrison, 2002)
But the oral transmission of historical and religious issues was unreliable because it could distort or forget religious texts.
Read more : oldest civilization in the world
What makes Mesopotamia a civilization?
When do we ask How is religion related to history? We can point to many cultural developments and inventions. In previous articles, we introduced Mesopotamia as the cradle of civilization. Now, examining the historical texts, we know Mesopotamia as the cradle of religion.
The first written documents related to religious practices date back about 3500 BC.
So we can say that Sumer was one of the first regions where religion was formed and spread.
how has religion changed over time?
Religion in ancient times and now deals with the spiritual aspect of the human condition, gods and goddesses. In the old religious texts is the story of the world’s creation and man’s place in the world.
Also, in religious books, there are verses about eternity, how to live after death, and how to get rid of suffering in this world or the hereafter.
It is interesting to know that when we search in ancient history, we find different types of gods with additional responsibilities. Polytheism was very common in ancient Greece and Rome religions, and in another article, we have thoroughly discussed the types of Roman or Greek gods.
Importance of studying religion
We have always realized the importance of the history of religions when studying history. Reading many history books teaches us much about how old or new religions came about.
Studying history is very important for us. Because if we don’t learn history, we can’t talk about religion. Examining the many records of different religions helps us better understand religion and how it came into existence.
No culture in human history is indifferent to religion. Religion has played a critical role in all societies.
It is important to study religion related to history.
Because religion was the creator of many moral laws of civilizations and social structures, even religion played a role in the formation of art and music in ancient times.
Fortunately, many historians have investigated the formation of religions from the beginning to the subsequent development and their spread among different societies.
If you also want to know how to change religion and its entry into new societies, don’t worry. There is usually a lot of information in this field.
What is the historical significance of polytheistic?
When do we ask How is religion related to history? We can examine the cause of polytheism in ancient times.
Written and archeological documents show that people worshiped many gods in ancient times and believed each God influenced a specific area because they thought that only one God could not provide for all human needs.
They thought that to achieve unity and maintain life, they should worship different types of God.
For this reason, when people experience love failure, they go to the goddess of love to relieve their inner pain, and if they want to win the battle, they consult the god of war.
In historical and religious texts, was the worship of several gods only by the Romans or the Greeks? We will explain further.
ancient persian religion zoroastrianism
Maybe to find the question How is religion related to history? And in which regions of the world the worship of multiple gods was prevalent. We should investigate the ancient Persian religion and other religions related to history.
Iranians experienced their first ancient religion with the migration of Aryans or Indo-Iranians. This ancient religion entered the Iranian plateau sometime before the third millennium BC.
Iranians at that time were worshiping the supreme god, Ahura Mazda.
Ahura Mazda presided over the lesser gods.
Religion-related to history shows us that Iranians’ most popular small gods were the God of fire and Mithra. Mitra was the god of sunrise and covenants. Anahita was also one of the other Iranian gods who was considered the goddess of fertility, water, health, healing, and wisdom.
By examining the texts of religion related to history, we realize that these gods were responsible for standing against the forces of good and order against evil spirits and disorder and chaos.
Conclusion of what is the relationship between religion and history
In this article, we tried to answer the question How is religion related to history? To answer, We also explained the polytheism of ancient Romans, Greeks, and Iranians. We asked what explanations are for worshiping several gods in the texts of religion related to history.
We also discussed the history of writing religious texts and the importance of the invention of calligraphy in preserving religion. We are waiting for your comments, and we enjoy reading your comments.
References:
- Ansari, H. The Infidel Within The History of Muslims in Britain, 1800 to the Present. Hurst & Co Ltd.
- Nongbri, B. (2013). Before Religion: A History of a Modern Concept. Yale University Press.
- Harrison, P. “Religion” and the Religions in the English Enlightenment. Cambridge University Press.
