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A state religion (also called official religion) is a religion or creed officially endorsed by a sovereign state. A state with an official religion (also known as confessional state ), while not a secular state, is not necessarily a theocracy.
- Religion in Ancient Mesopotamia
- Ancient Persian Religion
- Religion in Egypt
- Religion in China & India
- Religion in Mesoamerica
- Greek & Roman Religion
- Common Themes in Ancient Religion & Their Continuance
As with many cultural advancements and inventions, the 'cradle of civilization' Mesopotamia has been cited as the birthplace of religion. When religion developed in Mesopotamia is unknown, but the first written records of religious practice date to c. 3500 BCE from Sumer. Mesopotamian religious beliefs held that human beings were co-workers with th...
The early religion of the Persians arrived on the Iranian Plateau with the migrations of the Aryans (properly understood as Indo-Iranians) some time prior to the third millennium BCE. The early faith was polytheistic with a supreme god, Ahura Mazda, presiding over lesser deities. Among the most popular of these was Atar (god of fire), Mithra (god o...
Egyptian religion was similar to Mesopotamian belief, however, in that human beings were co-workers with the gods to maintain order. The principle of harmony (known to the Egyptians as ma'at) was of the highest importance in Egyptian life (and in the afterlife), and their religion was fully integrated into every aspect of existence. Egyptian religi...
This principle of order is also paramount in the world's oldest religion still being practiced today: Hinduism (known to adherents as Sanatan Dharma, 'Eternal Order', thought to have been founded as early as 5500 BCE but certainly by c. 2300 BCE). Although often viewed as a polytheistic faith, Hinduism is actually henotheistic. There is only one su...
Remembrance of the dead and the part they still play in the lives of those on earth was an important component of all ancient religions, including the belief system of the Maya. The gods were involved in every aspect of the life of the Maya. As with other cultures, there were many different deities (over 250), all of whom had their own special sphe...
The importance of remembrance of the dead as part of one's religious devotions was integral to the beliefs of the Greeks as well. Continued remembrance of the dead by the living kept the soul of the deceased alive in the afterlife. The Greeks, like the other cultures mentioned, believed in many gods who often cared for their human charges but, just...
The religions of the ancient world shared many of the same patterns with each other even though the cultures may never have had any contact with each other. The spiritual iconography of the Mayan and Egyptian pyramids has been recognized since the Maya were first brought to the world's attention by John Lloyd Stephens and Frederick Catherwood in th...
- Joshua J. Mark
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A state religion (also called an official religion, established church or state church) is a religious body or creed officially endorsed by the state. In some countries more than one religion or denomination has such standing. There are also a variety of ways such endorsement occurs.
The Origin of World Religions. By Anita Ravi. As people created more efficient systems of communication and more complex governments in early agrarian civilizations, they also developed what we now call religion.
Summary. The boundary between the religious and the secular spheres of life is contested in many parts of the world.
A brief treatment of church and state follows. For full treatment, see Christianity: Church and state. Before the advent of Christianity, separate religious and political orders were not clearly defined in most civilizations.
Feb 22, 2016 · Taoism exerted a great influence during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE) and the emperor Xuanzong (reigned 712-756 CE) decreed it a state religion, mandating that people keep Taoist writings in their home.
