emergence

The emergence of religion is closely tied to economic and social structures. Early societies developed religious ideas that reflected their way of life. For instance, hunter-gatherer societies likely had simpler religious concepts than agricultural societies, which focused on fertility and the earth.1

As agrarian-based societies developed into civilizations, with complex organizations, ruling classes, and a division of labor, polytheism flourished. The social order was mirrored in the divine realm, with city and state gods and a hierarchical "state of gods". Fixed shrines became important as people concentrated in cities, though older traditions like animalism persisted.12

The study of religion as a formal discipline emerged in the 19th century, using methods from history, psychology, sociology, and other fields to understand its origins and functions. Different cultures have ancient religious roots, with Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, and Judaism all tracing back thousands of years.345