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{{Short description|Form of religious tradition}}
{{merge to|Evolutionary origin of religions|discuss=Talk:Evolutionary origin of religions#Proposed merge with Urreligion|date=June 2015}}
{{wikt | urreligion}}
{{cleanup-rewrite|date = March 2011}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
'''''Urreligion''''' ([[:wiktionary:ur-|ur-]] being a [[Germanic languages|Germanic]] [[prefix]] for original, primitive, elder, primeval, or proto-) is a notion of an "original" or "oldest" form of [[religious tradition]]. The term contrasts with [[organized religion]], such as the [[theocracy|theocracies]] of the early [[Cities of the Ancient Near East|urban]] cultures of the [[Ancient Near East]] or [[major religions|current world religions]].
'''''Urreligion''''' is a postulated "original" or "oldest" form of [[religious tradition]] (the [[German language|German]] [[prefix]] {{wikt-lang|de|ur-}} expressing the idea of "original", "primal", "primitive", "elder", "primeval", or "''{{wt|en|proto-}}''"). The concept contrasts with later [[organized religion|organized religions]] such as the early [[theocracy|theocracies]] of the [[Ancient Near East]] and in later [[major religions|world religions]].
The term originates in [[German Romanticism]].
The term ''Urreligion'' originated in the context of [[German Romanticism]].

==History==
==History==
[[Friedrich Creuzer]] put forward the notion of a monotheistic primeval religion in 1810 - an idea taken up by other authors of the [[Romantic period]], such as [[J. J. Bachofen]],<ref>
[[Friedrich Creuzer]] put forward the notion of a monotheistic primeval religion in 1810 – an idea taken up by other authors of the [[Romantic period]], such as [[J. J. Bachofen]],<ref>In his ''Mutterrecht und Urreligion '', Bachofen connects primeval religion and [[matriarchy]].</ref> but decidedly opposed by [[Johann Heinrich Voss]].<ref>''Symbolik und Mythologie der alten Völker, besonders der Griechen. In Vorträgen und Entwürfen.'' Leipzig and Darmstadt, Heyer und Leske, 1810–1812.</ref> [[Goethe]], in a conversation with [[Eckermann]] on 11 March 1832, discussed the human ''Urreligion'', which he characterized as "pure nature and [pure] reason, of divine origin".<ref>[http://www.zeno.org/Literatur/M/Goethe,+Johann+Wolfgang/Gespr%C3%A4che/%5BZu+den+Gespr%C3%A4chen%5D/1832 Gespräche]</ref>
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The final scene of his ''[[Faust Part Two]]'' (1832) has been taken as evoking "the 'Urreligion' of mankind".<ref>O. Durrani, "Biblical Borrowings in Goethe's 'Faust': A Historical Survey of Their Interpretation", ''The Modern Language Review'' 1977</ref>
In his ''Mutterrecht und Urreligion '', Bachofen connects primeval religion and [[matriarchy]].
</ref> but decidedly opposed by [[Johann Heinrich Voss]].<ref>
''Symbolik und Mythologie der alten Völker, besonders der Griechen. In Vorträgen und Entwürfen.'' Leipzig and Darmstadt, Heyer und Leske, 1810-12.</ref>
[[Goethe]] in a conversation with [[Eckermann]] on 11 March 1832 discussed the human ''Urreligion'', which he characterized as "pure nature and [pure] reason, of divine origin".<ref>[http://www.zeno.org/Literatur/M/Goethe,+Johann+Wolfgang/Gespr%C3%A4che/%5BZu+den+Gespr%C3%A4chen%5D/1832 Gespräche]</ref>
The final scene of his ''[[Faust Part Two]]'' (1832) has been taken as evoking "the 'Urreligion' of mankind".<ref>
⚫
Biblical Borrowings in Goethe's "Faust": A Historical Survey of Their Interpretation, by O. Durrani The Modern Language Review 1977</ref>


Often used in the sense of [[natural religion]] or [[indigenous religion]], the religious behaviour of pre-modern [[tribal societies]] such as [[shamanism]], [[animism]] and [[ancestor worship]] (e.g. [[Australian aboriginal mythology]]<ref>[http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg15220540.600-flood-gave-birth-to-worlds-oldest-religion.html newscientist.com]
Often used in the sense of [[natural religion]] or [[indigenous religion]], the religious behaviour of pre-modern [[tribal societies]] such as [[shamanism]], [[animism]] and [[ancestor worship]] (e.g. [[Australian aboriginal mythology]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Flood gave birth to world's oldest religion |date=2 November 1996 |first=Leigh |last=Dayton |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg15220540.600-flood-gave-birth-to-worlds-oldest-religion.html |access-date=15 August 2020}}</ref>), the term ''Urreligion'' has also been used by adherents of various religions to back up the claim that their own religion is somehow "primeval" or "older" than competing traditions. In the context of a given religious faith, literal belief in a [[creation myth|creation]] may be the base of primality. (e.g. [[Biblical literalism]], or literal belief in the [[Hindu]] [[Puranas]]).
</ref>), the term ''Urreligion'' has also been used by adherents of various religions to back up the claim that their own religion is somehow "primeval" or "older" than competing traditions. In the context of a given religious faith, literal belief in a [[creation myth|creation]] may be the base of primality. (e.g. [[Biblical literalism]], or literal belief in the [[Hindu]] [[Puranas]]).


In particular, [[Urmonotheismus]] comprises the historical claim that primeval religion was [[monotheistic]]. Some have rejected this hypothesis,<ref>
In particular, [[Urmonotheismus]] comprises the historical claim that primeval religion was [[monotheistic]]. Some have rejected this hypothesis,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0Kf1ZwDifdAC&q=urmonotheism&pg=PA136 |title=No Other Gods: Emergent Monotheism in Israel|page=136|first=Robert Karl|last=Gnuse|publisher=Sheffield Academic Press|year=1997|isbn=1-85075-657-0}}</ref> and certain [[Christian apologetics]] circles defend it.<ref>Pajak, Sylwester, ''Urreligion und Uroffenbarung bei P. W. Schmidt'', St. Augustin 1978.</ref>
{{cite book|url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=0Kf1ZwDifdAC&pg=PA136&dq=urmonotheism |title=No Other Gods: Emergent Monotheism in Israel|page=136|first=Robert Karl|last=Gnuse|publisher=Sheffield Academic Press|year=1997|isbn=1-85075-657-0}}
</ref> and certain [[Christian apologetics]] circles defend it.<ref>
Pajak, Sylwester, ''Urreligion und Uroffenbarung bei P. W. Schmidt'', St. Augustin 1978.</ref>


Nineteenth-century [[Germanic mysticism]] sometimes claimed that the [[Germanic runes]] bore testimony of a primeval religion.<ref>J. L. Studach, [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_YmgCAAAAQAAJ <!-- quote=Urreligion. --> ''Die Urreligion oder das entdeckte Uralphabet''], 1856</ref> Some more recent [[new religious movements]] that claim to restore primeval religion include [[Godianism]]<ref>{{cite book |last = Onyioha |first = K. O. K. |title = African Godianism : a revolutionary religion for mankind through direct communication with God |year = 1980 |publisher = Conch Magazine |location = [[Owerri]]; New York |isbn = 0914970313 |pages = [https://archive.org/details/africangodianism0000onyi/page/124 124] |url-access = registration |url = https://archive.org/details/africangodianism0000onyi/page/124}}</ref> and [[Umbanda]].<ref>[[Gerhard Müller (Lutheran theologian)|Gerhard Müller]], ''Theologische Realenzyklopädie'', [[De Gruyter]] (2003), p. 265</ref>
Nineteenth-century [[Germanic mysticism]] sometimes claimed that the [[Germanic runes]] bore testimony of a primeval religion.<ref>
[http://books.google.ch/books?id=YmgCAAAAQAAJ&dq=Urreligion&source=gbs_summary_s&cad=0 J L Studach ''Die Urreligion oder das entdeckte Uralphabet'', 1856]</ref>
Some more recent [[new religious movements]] that claim to restore primeval religion include [[Godianism]]<ref>
{{cite book
| last = Onyioha
| first = K. O. K
| title = African Godianism : a revolutionary religion for mankind through direct communication with God
| year = 1980
| publisher = Conch Magazine
| location = [[Owerri]]; New York
| isbn = 0914970313
| pages = 124
}}
</ref>
and [[Umbanda]].<ref>Gerhard Muller, Theologische Realenzyklopädie, de Gruyter (2003), p. 265</ref>

In the context of [[organized religion]], especially [[monotheism]], claims of an ''"oldest religion"'' may also be attached to a positive dating claim of a [[List of founders of religious traditions|founding figure]] rather than a notion of absolute "primality". Thus, [[Vyasa]], the "splitter of the [[Vedas]]" is dated to the remote [[Dvapara Yuga]] in the [[Puranic Hinduism]]. [[Jainism]] dates [[Rishabha (Jain tirthankar)|Rishabha]] to a similarly remote period.


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Ancient Semitic religion]]
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* [[Paleolithic religion]]
* [[Perennial philosophy]]
* [[Prehistoric religion]]
* [[Prehistoric religion]]
* [[Proto-religion (disambiguation)]]
* [[Proto-Indo-European religion]]
* [[Proto-Indo-European religion]]
* [[Evolutionary origin of religions]]
* [[Traditionalist school]]
* [[UR Group]]
* [[Tradition (perennialism)]]


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:1810 introductions]]
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{{Use dmy dates|date = March 2011}}

[[Category:Prehistoric religion]]
[[Category:Prehistoric religion]]
[[Category:History of religion]]
[[Category:History of religion studies]]
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[[Category:Study of religion]]
[[Category:Superlatives in religion]]
[[Category:Superlatives in religion]]
[[Category:Romantic idealism]]

Latest revision as of 08:33, 16 May 2024

Look up urreligion in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Urreligion is a postulated "original" or "oldest" form of religious tradition (the German prefix ur- expressing the idea of "original", "primal", "primitive", "elder", "primeval", or "proto-"). The concept contrasts with later organized religions such as the early theocracies of the Ancient Near East and in later world religions. The term Urreligion originated in the context of German Romanticism.

History[edit]

Friedrich Creuzer put forward the notion of a monotheistic primeval religion in 1810 – an idea taken up by other authors of the Romantic period, such as J. J. Bachofen,[1] but decidedly opposed by Johann Heinrich Voss.[2] Goethe, in a conversation with Eckermann on 11 March 1832, discussed the human Urreligion, which he characterized as "pure nature and [pure] reason, of divine origin".[3] The final scene of his Faust Part Two (1832) has been taken as evoking "the 'Urreligion' of mankind".[4]

Often used in the sense of natural religion or indigenous religion, the religious behaviour of pre-modern tribal societies such as shamanism, animism and ancestor worship (e.g. Australian aboriginal mythology[5]), the term Urreligion has also been used by adherents of various religions to back up the claim that their own religion is somehow "primeval" or "older" than competing traditions. In the context of a given religious faith, literal belief in a creation may be the base of primality. (e.g. Biblical literalism, or literal belief in the Hindu Puranas).

In particular, Urmonotheismus comprises the historical claim that primeval religion was monotheistic. Some have rejected this hypothesis,[6] and certain Christian apologetics circles defend it.[7]

Nineteenth-century Germanic mysticism sometimes claimed that the Germanic runes bore testimony of a primeval religion.[8] Some more recent new religious movements that claim to restore primeval religion include Godianism[9] and Umbanda.[10]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ In his Mutterrecht und Urreligion , Bachofen connects primeval religion and matriarchy.
  2. ^ Symbolik und Mythologie der alten Völker, besonders der Griechen. In Vorträgen und Entwürfen. Leipzig and Darmstadt, Heyer und Leske, 1810–1812.
  3. ^ Gespräche
  4. ^ O. Durrani, "Biblical Borrowings in Goethe's 'Faust': A Historical Survey of Their Interpretation", The Modern Language Review 1977
  5. ^ Dayton, Leigh (2 November 1996). "Flood gave birth to world's oldest religion". Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  6. ^ Gnuse, Robert Karl (1997). No Other Gods: Emergent Monotheism in Israel. Sheffield Academic Press. p. 136. ISBN 1-85075-657-0.
  7. ^ Pajak, Sylwester, Urreligion und Uroffenbarung bei P. W. Schmidt, St. Augustin 1978.
  8. ^ J. L. Studach, Die Urreligion oder das entdeckte Uralphabet, 1856
  9. ^ Onyioha, K. O. K. (1980). African Godianism : a revolutionary religion for mankind through direct communication with God. Owerri; New York: Conch Magazine. pp. 124. ISBN 0914970313.
  10. ^ Gerhard Müller, Theologische Realenzyklopädie, De Gruyter (2003), p. 265
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