7 Major Theories of the Origin of Religion


Religion is a phenomenon that resides wherever people are found. We have noted that it is difficult to have a precise definition for religion. But religion is found both in great metropolitan capitals as well as in rural villages. It manifests in western and traditional societies.

In most human communities around the world, there are temples, shrines, churches, mosques, pyramids, monuments, etc.

Most of these express human religion in a great intensity. Even in most industrialiser cities, some natural phenomena have been reconstructed to tourist centres, and indeed old burial sites and caves point to the religious nature of some particular people who once lived in some particular communities.

Images and symbols of community significance are erected, reflecting religious founders and leaders which are now treated with utmost reverence and sacredness. However, we need to inquire into the evolution of religion.

The very basic question into our evolutionary inquiry is: “where do religions come from?” The question may be further put in the following ways:

(a) What is the source of religion? How did religion evolve? How did religion begin? Who began religion?

(b) What is the earliest form in which religion began? That is, when or what time did religion begin?

(c) What is responsible for the religious nature of humans?

Our answers to these questions will be given by examining different theories that have been offered by different minds on the origins of religion.

Basically, we shall discuss such theories along the categories of anthropology, sociology, psychology and revelation.

It is hoped that at the end of this article, you should be able to mention the different theories of the origin of religion, explain the different theories and critically assess each theory as it explains the origin of religion.