What is the origin of religion?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Religion originated with God and His existence. When God created humanity, He created them with an innate awareness of God and eternity, stemming from being made in His image, which instills a desire to seek and understand Him. God initiated the first and only true religion, seeking a relationship with His creation, as seen in His creation and interactions with Adam and Eve and the covenants He made with humanity. However, humanity’s disobedience led to the development of diverse religions and polytheistic practices, as exemplified at the Tower of Babel. The Bible teaches that God’s ultimate act of initiating relationship was through Jesus Christ, offering salvation as a gift of grace. Christianity stands apart from other belief systems because it emphasizes divine grace, not human effort, to reconcile humanity with God.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The origin of religion lies in humanity’s creation in God’s image. Genesis 1:27 declares, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." This divine imprint explains humanity’s universal desire to seek purpose, understand existence, and connect with their Creator.
• From the beginning, God initiated a relationship with humanity. Adam and Eve walked with Him in the garden (Genesis 3:8), and their descendants from Seth’s line "called upon the name of the LORD" (Genesis 4:26). These early interactions reflect the foundation of true worship.
• Genesis 4:3–4: Cain and Abel brought sacrifices to God, reflecting an early understanding of worship and offerings.
• Humanity’s disobedience led to deviations from worshiping the one true God. The Tower of Babel account in Genesis 11 illustrates how people turned from God, seeking autonomy and power. God scattered them by confusing their languages, which led to the development of diverse religions and polytheistic practices.
• Genesis 12:1–3: God initiated a covenant with Abraham, promising blessings for all nations through him, establishing the foundation of faith.
• Deuteronomy 6:4: The Shema proclaims, "The LORD our God, the LORD is one," emphasizing monotheism as central to true religion.
• Ecclesiastes 3:11 notes, "He has put eternity into man’s heart," revealing that God has instilled a longing for the eternal in every human soul.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• John 3:16–18: God’s ultimate act of initiating relationship came through sending His Son, offering salvation to all who believe in Him.
• The innate awareness of the eternal is reinforced by Romans 1:19–20, which states, "What can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them… in the things that have been made." From the natural world to human conscience, God’s existence and attributes are evident, inviting people to seek Him.
• Romans 5:8: "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." God bridges the gap between humanity and Himself, not through human works, but through divine grace.
• Acts 17:22–31: Paul addresses the Athenians, explaining their religious pursuits as a reflection of their longing for the Creator, whom Paul identifies as the one true God.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

True religion is not a human invention, but God’s initiative to reconcile humanity to Himself. Christianity stands apart as the only belief system where God bridges the divide between Himself and humanity through His work, not human effort. Unlike other religions, which often require moral or ritualistic actions to earn divine favor, Christianity teaches that salvation is a gift of grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8–9).

The anthropological evidence aligns with Scripture, showing that early religions were predominantly monotheistic before shifting to polytheism through cultural and linguistic divergence. This mirrors the biblical account of Babel and humanity’s tendency to deviate from worshiping the true God. For Christians, understanding the origin of religion emphasizes the uniqueness of the gospel message. It also equips believers to engage thoughtfully with people of other faiths, recognizing their spiritual longing as an opportunity to share the good news of Jesus Christ. True worship begins and ends with God’s invitation, demonstrated in His Word and fulfilled in His Son.

UNDERSTAND

• Religion arises from humanity’s innate awareness of God and eternity.
• God initiated true religion through His relationship with humanity, beginning with Adam and Eve.
• Christianity emphasizes salvation through grace, with Jesus Christ bridging the gap between humanity and God, not through a man-made religion.

REFLECT

• How does the knowledge that we are created in God’s image influence the way we view our relationship with Him?
• How can we recognize and respond to God’s initiative to reconcile with us through Jesus Christ?
• How does understanding the origin of religion in the Bible challenge or deepen our personal faith?

ENGAGE

• What do we learn about the nature of true worship from the interactions between God and humanity?
• How does the Tower of Babel story reflect the development of diverse religious practices, and what lessons can we apply to today’s world?
• How can we, as believers, engage thoughtfully with people from different faith backgrounds while staying grounded in the uniqueness of the gospel?