People have been speculating about the number of religions that existed before Christianity for centuries. Although a definite answer isn’t possible, the most commonly accepted facts point to a range of religions, from tribal faiths to larger, more organized systems. All of these religions had a variety of beliefs and practices, and have shaped our current understanding of Christianity.
At its core, Christianity is a faith tradition built on the teachings, life and wisdom of Jesus Christ. It provides guidelines for worship, literature, and a holy book, the Bible. The faith spread quickly through the Mediterranean region during the first century and by the fourth century it had become a dominant religion in the Roman Empire.
Archaeologists and religious scholars have studied various records of ancient religions and unearthed artifacts revealing their beliefs and practices. Early archaeological findings suggest that sophisticated religions existed in distant parts of the world long before Christianity.
Many historians believe that tribal religions and polytheism influenced early Christianity. Polytheism, the belief in multiple gods, was prominent in cultures around the world before Christianity’s emergence. Ancient cultures like the Greeks and Romans worshipped various gods and goddesses who they believed held powers over elements of nature and everyday life.
In Asia, Buddhism and Hinduism were thriving faith traditions before the arrival of Christianity. Buddhists teach individuals the path to enlightenment through certain spiritual practices and Hinduism is based on a belief in multiple gods and goddesses. Elements of these religions have had a direct impact on the development of Christian thought.
According to a 2016 study in the United States, 53.2 percent of people identified themselves as Christians. Although Christianity has been the dominant religion in the Western world for centuries, recent data shows that many people still practice non-Christian faiths.
It is difficult to pinpoint exactly how many religions were present before Christianity without factoring in beliefs in local deities and other smaller religions. Even in the list of the major world religions, many diverse beliefs still exist today.
Judaism and Abrahamic Faiths
One religion believed to have existed before Christianity its Judaism. Jewish beliefs are steeped in ancient texts known as the Torah, which first emerged around the 9th century BCE. Most Christians recognize Judaism as the predecessor to Christianity; both religions share common root beliefs in Abraham, the patriarch of three faiths: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.
Other faiths collectively referred to as Abrahamic are also believed to have existed before Christianity. These include the Eastern Orthodox Church and Islam, the faith based on the teachings of Muhammad. Early followers of Islam began to spread their beliefs in the Middle East and beyond during the seventh century.
In various parts of the world, small communities practiced other religious beliefs, absorbed by Christianity when it made its way to their areas. Religions with ancient roots, such as Druidism in the British Isles, were among those wiped out or heavily influenced by Christianity when it spread in the first millennium.
Although it is impossible to know for certain just how many religions existed prior to Christianity, the available evidence suggests it was much more diverse than what we see today.
Religions in China
Prior to the arrival of Christianity in the 4th century, ancient Chinese religion had been largely based on Confucianism and Taoism. Confucian beliefs in ritual, ethics and social relationships were the foundations of social order and many Confucian principles still shape Chinese culture today. Taoism was mainly concerned with spirituality, cosmic balance and health, which formed the basis of traditional Chinese medicine.
Religions in China didn’t remain static after Christianity appeared. Buddhism arrived in China during the first century AD, bringing a religious tradition focused on the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path to spiritual enlightenment. Buddhism influenced Confucianism, which continued to inform social life and the fashioning of laws, while Taoism focused on providing spiritual guidance and ritualistic practice.
Despite influences from other religious traditions, Christianity failed to take hold in China. In 692 AD, China’s rulers banned Christianity and Confucianism and Taoism remained the main faiths practiced in China for centuries. To this day, Confucianism and Taoism have had a greater lasting impact on Chinese culture and society than Christianity, although other religious traditions, including Buddhism, still have a presence there.
Religions in Africa
In multiple parts of Africa, pre-Christian religious traditions were largely rooted in ancestor worship, nature-based faith and sacred sites. Among some ethnic groups, animism, the belief in spirits and other supernatural forces, was prevalent. Other religions that likely predate Christianity, such as Vodou and Santeria, are still practiced in various parts of Africa today.
Christianity indirectly arrived in Africa through Europe and across the Mediterranean. By the fourth century AD, Christianity began to take hold in some parts of North Africa. Early Christian missionaries set up centers in cities, such as Alexandria and Carthage; Christianity flourished in these regions following the 5th century defeat of Rome by the Vandals.
In the centuries that followed, Christian faith spread south to Sub-Saharan Africa. Much of this was due to both the impact of Arab traders, pouring in from the Southeast, and Portuguese traders who took advantage of African trade routes starting in the Mid 15th century. In both cases, as people began to exchange goods, they also shared their faiths, leading to the spread of Christianity throughout the region.
Religions in India
Before the arrival of Christianity, India was home to a diverse mix of both tribal religions and major faith traditions, such as Hinduism and Buddhism. These religions were well established by the 1st century CE and by the 3rd century, Hinduism had become the dominant religion. In fact, Hinduism is thought to be the oldest civilization in the world, having engaged in religious practices since 2000 BC.
The origins of Buddhism in India can be traced back to the 5th century BCE. According to Buddhist mythology, the Buddha made his first teachings in India and the philosophy spread across Asia and beyond. By the 1st century CE Buddhism had become one of the major religions in India and it is still practiced there today.
Although Christianity was introduced to India as early as the 1st century, it struggled to compete against the strong presence of Hinduism and Buddhism. To this day, Christians make up just over 2 percent of the population in India. Evidently, Christianity failed to displace the long-standing religious traditions that had been practiced in India for centuries.
Religion in North America
Before European colonists arrived in North America, the inhabitants practiced a variety of tribal and nature-based religions. These belief systems centered on their connection with nature, the spirits that surrounded them and the veneration of ancestors. Much of this knowledge was passed down orally, with a few written accounts remaining in existence, making knowledge of these religions limited and often difficult to trace back to a source.
In the 16th century, Christian settlers began to arrive in the Americas, bringing with them new religious traditions. The span and range of religious traditions present before the arrival of Christianity in both North and South America had a major impact on the development of faith in the Western hemisphere.
In terms of direct impact, most native people in North America and South America have adopted aspects of Catholicism and the Protestant faith, while still embracing the beliefs of their ancestors. Many native tribes still use the land and elements of their mother earth in their ceremonies and rituals; a sign of how deeply their beliefs remain entwined with their environment.
Religion in South America
The practice of religion in South America largely predates the arrival of Christianity. Most of the major South American civilizations, such as the Incas, typically practiced polytheistic religions, focused on the veneration of numerous gods and goddesses.
In 1539, Christianity arrived in Peru when Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro and his men arrived. As the conquistadors began their colonization efforts, they quickly instated Christianity as the main faith. Despite this, many of the local practices and rituals of the native people remained in existence.
Today, many South American countries practice a mixture of Christianity, firmly entrenched in the centuries-old indigenous belief systems. During certain festivals and celebrations, ancient rituals still accompany Christian practices, demonstrating how these religions have merged over time.
Conclusions and Summary
In conclusion, there is no definitive answer to how many religions were present before Christianity. Different parts of the world likely had different belief systems and diverse religious cultures, making it difficult to determine an exact number. Today the dominant religion in much of the world is Christianity, with some pockets of non-Christian faiths still existing.
What is certain is that ancient traditions and religious beliefs interacted with Christianity when it spread to various parts of the world. One can also see how today’s Christian traditions are deeply entwined with the beliefs and practices of pre-Christian religions.
