Sanatana Dharma or Hinduism is considered the oldest religion in the world, although not all scholars agree with it. Judaism is believed to be the second oldest religion in the world, and Zoroastrianism is the third. Spirituality has been an essential part of human history and predates the history of organized religions. Therefore, it is hard to pinpoint the date of ancient religions.
Why is Hinduism Considered the Oldest Religion in the World?
Hindu Religious Texts:
Rig Veda, which is believed to have been written around 1500 BCE, is the oldest religious book in human history and forms the basis of Hinduism. This means that Hinduism was practiced long before. Orthodox Hindus believe that Hinduism is much older than estimated by historians. The epics Ramayana and Mahabharata are believed to have happened about 10000 and 5000 years ago, respectively.
In olden times, there was no art of printing. The Vedas were preserved through oral tradition. Therefore, we can say that they came into existence much before 1500 BCE.
Indus Valley Civilization:
The Indus Valley Civilization is about 5000 years old, where Hindu symbols like the Swastika and the Shiva lingam were discovered. Suffice it to say, Hinduism is more than 5000 years old, making it the oldest religion in the world. According to the latest research, it might be even 8000 years old.
Sanatana Dharma is a set of duties and a way of life. There was no concept of religion at that time. Dharma means a set of duties that apply to all human beings. The word Hinduism was coined by foreigners to address the people living in the vicinity of the river Sindhu.
You May Also Like To Read: The Origin and Meaning of the word Hindu.
Is Zoroastrianism the Oldest Religion in the World?
The Behistun Inscription is a multilingual inscription authored by Darius the Great, a Persian king. It is believed to have been written in 522 BCE. Zarathushtra, founder of Zoroastrianism, was born in the 2nd millennium BCE. He was the first prophet of the followers of Zoroastrianism. He advocated the concept of One God. Therefore, Zoroastrianism is the oldest monotheistic religion according to some scholars.
Zarathushtra wrote down some hymns that predate written Sanskrit literature. Therefore, some scholars believe that Zoroastrianism is older than Hinduism, but just relying on written text is not enough to decide which is the world’s oldest religion.
Is Judaism the Oldest Religion in the World?
Some Jews believe Judaism is the oldest religion in the world because its oral tradition dates back 4000 years. Also, some written texts may be older than the Sanskrit and Avestan texts.
Top 10 Oldest Religions in the World:
Hinduism – 2300 BCE.
Judaism – 640 BCE.
Zorastrianism – 600 BCE.
Buddhism – 563 BCE.
Confucianism – 551 BCE.
Jainism – 527 BCE.
Shinto – 300 BCE.
Christianity – 1 CE.
Taoism – 142 CE.
Islam – 570 CE.
(The years of inception of these religions given here are approximate.)
Conclusion:
Although there are different opinions about which is the oldest religion in the world, most scholars agree that Hinduism is the oldest religion in the world, and Judaism is the second oldest religion.