Origins of religions

RUDOLF OTTO (1869-1937): The theologian Rudolf Otto focused on religious experience, more specifically in moments that he called numerous which means “wholly other”, he described it as mysteium tremendum (terrifying mystery) and mysterium fascinans (Awe inspiring, fascinating mystery). He saw religion as emerging from these experiences; he asserted that these experiences arise from a special, non-rational faculty of the human mind, largely unrelated to other faculties, so religion cannot be reduced to culture or society. Some of his views, among others that the experiences of the numerous was caused by a transcendental reality are untestable and hence unscientific.

IMMANUEL KANT (1724-1804): He forced on elements of philosophy on Religion for about a century from the mid 1750s when he started teaching philosophy until after his retirement from academics, having reared up from a distinctively religious environment. He remained concerned about the place of religious belief in human thought and actions. As he moved forward, the development of his own original philosophical system in his pre-critical period through the years in which he was writing each critique and subsequent works all the ways to the incomplete fragmentary opus postumun of his old age. His attention to religious faith, was an enduring theme. His discussion of God and religion represents a measure of the evolution of his philosophical world view.

SIGMUND FREUD (1856-1939): He saw religion as an illusion, a belief that people very much wanted to be true. Unlike Taylor and Frazer, Freud attempted to explain why religion persists in spite of the book of evidence against its tenets. Freud asserted that religion is a largely unconscious neurotic response to repression. By repression, Freud means that civilized society demands that to be repressed, rational argument to a person holding a religious conviction will not change the neurotic response of a person. This is in contrast to Tylor and Frazer, who saw religion as rational and conscious, through primitive and mistaken attempt to explain the natural world. In his 1913 book “Totem and Taboo”, he developed a speculative story about how all monotheistic religions originated and developed. He asserted that monotheist religions grew out of a homicide in a clan of a father by his sons. This incident was subconsciously remembered in human societies.

JAMES GEORGE FRAZER (1854-1941): Followed Tylor’s theories to a great extent in his book, “The Golden Bough” but he distinguished between magic and religion. According to him, magic is used to influence the natural world in primitive man’s struggles for survivals. Magic depended on an uncritical belief of primitive people in mystic contacts and limitations. For example precipitation may be invoked by the primitive man by sprinkling water on the ground. He asserted that according to them magic worked through laws. In contrast, religion is the faith that the world is ruled by, through one or more deities with personal characteristics with who can be pleaded, not by laws.

MAX WEBER (1864-1920): Weber thought that the truth claims of religious movements were irrelevant for the scientific study of the movement. He portrayed each religion as rational and consistent in their respective societies. He acknowledged that religion has string social components. He diverged from Durkheim by arguing, for example, in his book “The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism” (1805) that religion can be a force of change in its quick spread, partially, due to the protestant worldly ascetic morale. Weber’s main focus was not on developing a theory of religion but on the interaction between society and religion, while introducing concepts that are still widely used in the sociology of religion.

FREDERIC ENGELS (1820-1895): He saw religion as originating from alienations and aiding the persistence of theism. He saw religion as supportive to the status quo. This corresponded to his famous saying that religion is the opium of the people. This view is however contradicted by the existence of certain religious groups such as those who follow liberation theology.

CLIFFORD GEERTZ (1926-2006) see also Evans Pritchard): The anthropologist Clifford Geertz (1926-2006) made several detailed ethnographic studies in Japanese villages, a more complex and multi religious society than Evans Pritchard had studied. He avoided the subjective and vague concept of group attitude as used by Ruth Benedict by using the analysis of society as proposed by Talcott Parsons who in turn had adapted it from Max Weber. Geertz held the view that explanations to describe religions and cultures are not sufficient; more interpretations are needed too. Geertz saw religion as one of the cultural systems of a society.

DAVID HUME (1711-1776): He was called Saint David and “The Good David” by his friends, but his adversaries knew him as “The Great Infidel”. His contributions to religion have had a lasting impact on its contemporary significance. Hume gives novel insights into many aspects of revealed and natural theology. When taken together however, they provide his attempt at a systematic underlining of the justification for religion. Thus religious belief is often defended through revealed theology and natural theology.

MIRCEA ELIADE (1907-1986): His approach grew out of the phenomenology of religion. He saw religion as something special and autonomous that cannot be reduced to the social, economical or psychological alone. Like Durkheim, he saw the sacred as central to religion. He differed from Durkheim’s functionalism. He views the sacred as often dealing with the supernatural, not with the clan or society. He said the daily life of an ordinary person is connected to the sacred by the appearance of the sacred called Theophany (theophany is an appearance of a god as a special case of it).

RODNEY STARK (1934) AND WILLIAM S. BAIN BRIDGE (1926-2006): They see religions as systems of “compensators. They viewed human beings as “rational actors” making choices that he/she thinks best, calculating cost and benefits. They define religion as a system of compensation that verifies the supernatural. The main reason behind the theory is that the compensation is what controls the choice, or in other words the choices which the rational actor makes are “rational in the sense that they are centered on the satisfaction of words.

W. ROBERTSON SMITH: Some authorities have found the origin of religion in Totemistic practices. So complex (and intricate) is the phenomenon surrounding Totemism that an adequate description of it cannot be given in so brief a compass. However, we may briefly present its essential features. A totem is a species of animal or plant, or more rarely a class of inanimate objects, to which a social group (a clan) stands in an untimed and very special relation of friendship or kinship frequently. It is thought of as the ancestor of the clan, which provides that social group with its name.


CONCLUSION: PRE-ANIMISM

It seems clear that most anthropologists and researchers into origins of religions agree that its beginning lie in a hyper-agency detection device of our brain, though, not explicitly named by proto-anthropologists, who saw it as “pre-animism” or a step right before or after nature, myth and nature worship. Hyper agency, nature myth, anthropism, animism, ancestor worship, totemism, ghost propitiation and magic, formed the nuclei or germ of religious thinking and belief. This germ or seed of religiosity bloomed into towering totems of religious orthodoxy and law, which in times of duress or necessity transformed into paternistic, moralistic and seemingly hostile high gods.

Note this: (Ezekiel 3:17, Jeremiah 6:17; Son of man I have appointed you a “Sophe” (i.e. watchman, prophet, seon or seer) i.e. the ancient name for prophets 1 Samuel 9:9)

REFERENCES
Altizer T. and Hamilton W. Radical Theology and the Death of God, cited by Alistair Kee. The Way of Transcendence, pp 104 (NET, 2015).

Benjamin Ray, African Religions, Symbols and Community (Patiuer-Hall, Ithala Press 1976).

Charles Ogundu Nnaji (2011) Theometry Scientific Philosophy of Religion (Enugu; OCPC-Theometry)

Eliade Mircea (1987) The Encyclopedia of Religion (New York: Oxford).

Emile Durkheim Elemental Forms of the Religious Life. Geo Allen and Unwin, 1915.

Father Richard Nnyambi, African Traditional Religion (ATR)

Henning Charles L on the origin of Religion American Anthropologist 11, No 12 (1898) 378-382.

Herbert Spencer, The Principles of Psychology, Vol 2.0 Appleton (1873), p 422.

Idowu E.B, African Traditional Religion; A definition (London; Scan Press Ltd, 1973)

Ikenga E.- Metuh, Comparative Studies of African Traditional Religions (Onitsha: Imico Publishers, 1989)

Immanuel Kant Critique on Pure Reason, Train, Norman Kenny Smith (called Critique) New York, St Martin’s Press 1965 References at the A and B German editors.

Introduction to African Religions, Mbiti J.S. London, 1975

Joseph Omoregbe (1993) A Philosophical Look at Religion, pp 123-127, New York Publishers, 1999.

Mbiti J.S. African Philosophy and Religions (London, Heinnman, 1969 (1900 edition)

Mbiti J.S. London (1970), African Religions and Philosophy.

Nabofa M.Y (1996) Symbolism in African Traditional Religion (Ibadan; MYN) pp 1-15

Nietzsche (1969) Thus Spoke Zarathustra, translated with an introduction by R.J Hollingdale (Middlesex; Penguin Books) pp 14-15

Nnaji Ogundu Charles “Introduction to African Ontonomics” in Nnamdi Azikiwe Journal Of Philosophy: Vol 5 (Awka:NAJP) pp 24-26

Philosophy NET, 2014

Richard Schacht (2015) After the death of God)NET 2015

Taylor, Edward Burnett, Primitive Culture; researches into the development of mythology, philosophy, religion, art and custom, natural, Vol 1 (1873) p 424.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Ezekiel 3:17, Jeremiah 6:17; Son of man I have appointed you a “Sophe” Bishop, Shepherd, etc (i.e. watchman, prophet, seon or seer) i.e. the ancient name for prophets in Istreal: see 1 Samuel 9:9) Hence, Phaulos-Sophe, i.e. Philosophe (Phalasophe) is false prophet; Isaiah 56:10; Ephilia-Sophim i.e Blind Watchmen or blind prophets.
(See Hebrew “Miphilosoph” i.e. fine and sound utterances, get Phaulos i.e. false. (Col. 2:4)
FALSE PROPHECY PRODUCED PHILOSOPHY

Introductory Notes: (Ancient False Prophecy was ancient Philosophy i.e. Tophilaso or false prophets) Ezek 22:25, 7:31-32, Tophet a divination. Isaiah 8:19“Saphilsaphim”, i.e. witchcraft- prophecy.
GENERAL INTRODUCTION

Before the Greek New Testament, the word philosophy existed in Hebrew, Aramaic Egyptian, Phoenician, Babylonian and Hindu in various forms; it was Apostle Paul in acts 17:18 and Col 2:8 who gave us (or coined) philosophy in its present form (i.e. philosophia).

EXAMPLES OF ITS ANCIENT FORMS ARE:

1. 
   Babylonian “Baal sapha” or Baalsphema, Blasphemy (i.e. Plasphemy) or the gods (Baalim or Sephu) speak (i.e. Sapha) BDB, 2007, p 46, which gave us 2 Chronicles 23:1, Elisaphat from Baali or Belisaphat to Hebrew Phalasapha (the gods speak, judge or oppose God; see Isaiah 14:12-15Phi-lucifer or phosphorus; i.e. to speak against God), i.e. Bright and sound, but false. See Colossians 2;4 “Plausible”.
   
2. 
   Hebrew “Phalasapha, Philasaphim” i.e. false prophecy or “Philisti- Sophiku” (or Phili-Sophikus) i.e. idolatry, paganism; Isaiah 2:6 or Phili or to worship; (Tophilah or Philah) the gods (i.e. sephu), hence Philisephu or Philisti i.e. idolatry (or false prophecy or divination, see Jer 14:14)
   
3. 
   See Phoenician “Vilasaphim” Dan 2:2 and Exodus 7:11, i.e. magicians.
   

Note: Hebrew “Phaal” or Greek “Phaulos” is Old Hebrew; thenPhoenician Ephila or Baal i.e. vile (See Rev 9:11).

4. 
   Hebrew “Phaal” (Paal) Sapha, i.e. to do or speak evil.
   
5. 
   Hebrew “Tophilaso” (false prophecy: i.e. a figurative expression, Deut 18:9-end)
   
6. 
   Hebrew “Phaal” entered Greek as “Phaulos” (i.e. falsehood; Hosea 7:1). James 3:13-15 or Phaulosophos or Philosophos- see Col 2:8, i.e. false gods , false wisdom or false teaching) from elemental spirits or the uncircumcised (i.e. Philisti- Sophiku; 1 Samuel 17: 26 & 36).
   
7. 
   a. Hindu “Phallu- Siva” (Phalusepha) i.e. Baal (Phaal) the fertility god of sexual orgies (Woodrow, 1969, pp 1-33).
   
   2. 
      See Gen. 46:9 “Pallu or Phallu” son of Reuben; it means sexuality from Baal (Phaal) Reuben committed adultery with his father’s wife.
      
8. 
   Babylonian “Beltesazzar, and Belsazar to Hebrew “Aphia (Aphil) Saphir, i.e. Aphilasaphir, which means chief magician (Dan. 4:9 and 18) or the gods speak through you.See BDB 2007, P 861,
   
9. 
   See Egyptian Panea or Phanea- Saphne (Zaphenath- Panea) Egyptian “Zaphenath” is Hebrew “Saphne”, Panea is Phanea (Phone); hence Phaneasaphne (i.e. the gods speak through you, or speak for Pharaoh the god, Genesis 41:43- 45.
   

(Note Phos or Phosphorus is also philosophy, i.e. bright and sound but false(plausible), Col 2:4)

Note the following more information:

• 
  See Proverbs 10:8, Hebrew “Evil Sapha” to Greek “Philosapha” i.e. foolish or evil talk; see Isaiah 44:22 Evil- Hokma i.e. foolish wisdom.
  
• 
  Isaiah 14:12 Phe- Lucifer, or philosopher, i.e. the spirit, or god (Phe) who speaks or opposes (Sapha, Phosphorous or Satan) i.e. against God.
  
• 
  Hebrew “Phaal- Sapha”, people who speak evil (See Colossians 2:8).
  
• 
  Isaiah 56:10 “Phaal- Sophim”, or philosophers i.e. false prophets. The ancient name for prophets in Israel was Sophe Ezekiel 3:17, Jeremiah 6:17, i.e. watchman. Ezekiel 33:7, Isaiah 56:10, Hosea 9:8.
  
• 
  Hosea 7:1, see Hebrew- Tophaalas, Phalasu Phalasapha or Phaalsa, to the Greek “Philosophoi (i.e. people who do, or speak wrong, or violence (See Colossians 2: 4-8).
  
• 
  Hebrew “Miphiloseab or Miphilosaph”, i.e. plausible (Colossians 2:4); i.e. fine but false arguments (Sapha) Miphil is Phaal i.e. false.
  
• 
  Isaiah 56:10 “Your watchmen or prophets (i.e. Sophim) are blind or false (Phaulos) i.e. Phaulos- Sophim (or Zophim).
  
• 
  See Proverbs 17:4 Hebrew “Sophat- Even” (or Even - Ephelsa phat: i.e. false talk or poison beneath).
  

HEBREW ORIGINS FOR INVESTIGATIVE PHILOSOPHY

1. 
   Jeremiah 6:17, Ezekiel 3:17, Ezekiel 33:7, Hosea 9:8, Ezekiel 3:17 etc, “Son of man (Ben Adam) I have appointed you a watchman over Israel (Hebrew “Sophe”, i.e. watchman, Sophya, (Sapphaire) or seon or seer, the ancient name for Hebrew prophets, see 1 Samuel 9:9 or “Sophet or Saphat”, i.e. Judge or leader over Israel. (See Numbers 23:14 “Balaam went to the Sophim” (from Phoenician “Zophim) i.e. sacred hill where the false (Phalim) prophets (Sophim) consult the gods (Sephu).
   
2. 
   Note: The word “Sophim” (i.e. prophets or watchmen) was dropped during the interregnum for its occultic origins such as “cesoph” (witchcraft) and Asaphim (i.e. magic and consulting the dead for information). See 1 Samuel 28:1-11 (Ophet; i.e. witch of Endor) or Isaiah 8:19 “Asaphim” (consulting the dead) etc, then the Hebrew “Nabi” or “Nebhim” (Arabic- Anabi) i.e. prophets, came in.
   

ADDITIONS

More Proofs of the Common Origins of Philosophy and Prophecy

A Sophe was a prophet (i.e. watchman, Ezekiel 3:17).

Sophe, Sophya or Sophim (Numbers 23:14) were ancient Hebrew words for prophet i.e. Sophe to English seon or seer, i.e. he who sees what others cannot see. The Seer was a watchman over others; 1 Samuel 9:9, Ezekiel 3:17 etc.

Note: Hebrew Sophe from Egyptian “Zaphne” to Greek “Sophonias” (See Hebrew “Zephaniah” which means the gods speak (sapha) through you, or reveal hidden things through you (See Genesis 41:43-48 “Zaphenath Phanea”.

Ancient prophets were called Sophim (i.e. seers; 1 Sam 9:9) or watchmen Jeremiah 6:17, Ezekiel 3:17, Ezekiel 33:7, Hosea 9:8; son of man (Ben Adam) I have appointed you a “Sophe” (i.e watchman or prophet: Ezekiel 3;17).

Please Note: while ancient prophets were called “Sophim, Sophet or Sophiya” (i.e. God spoke through them). Philosophy came from “Phaulos- Sophim, Phalasophim, Philasaphim or Aphial- Saphir”, i.e. false prophets or prophets (Sophim) who prophesy through magic (Philos or Pilos) Ezekiel 13:18-20.

Please Also Note:

Numbers 23:14: The field of Zophim (i.e. Sophim) means the hill (Zebuh, or Baal- Zebub) where false (Balaam or Phala) prophets (Sophim) look out for omens or for utterances from the gods. Simply put it means where false prophets (Balaam or Phala-Sophim) perform divination or consult the gods. Hence, Colossians 2:8 totally condemned philosophy as human consultations of elemental evil (Ephil) spirits (Sophron).

MORE ADDITIONS:

• 
  Ophel- Sophi; or Philosophe; i.e. those who go to the holy mountain to look for God or gods.
  
• 
  Ophet (Nehemiah 3:26; sacred hill).
  
• 
  Sophi (or Sinai, the Holy Mountain of the gods, i.e. Pheli).
  
• 
  Phelisophi (Numbers 23:14) the Hill of divination or to consult the gods.
  
• 
  Sophe; i.e. prophets who consult God at sacred mountains.
  

Balaam went to the Sophim (Phalasopha; Num 2:14)

Also Note:

1. 
   Phoenician Balaam- Sophim to Hebrew “Phalasophi” to Greek “Philisophoi” (i.e. Numbers 23:14, Daniel 2:2 i.e. false prophets, magicians or going before the divination mountain to consult the gods (Numbers 23:14). (See Numbers 24:1 “Balaam Sophe or Phala Sophe, i.e. witchcraft).
   

PHILISTI IS PHILOSOPHY

Philistia or Phileso is Sophiku

1. 
   Isaiah 2:6 “Magic (Philosaph) came from Philisti and the East (i.e. Parsee or Pharisee, i.e. Persia). The false prophets (Tophilaso) or Philisti, are Sophiku (i.e. pagans or idolatry,i.e. Philosophiku, see Isaiah 2:6) Hebrew Old Testament 1940, London).
   
2. 
   See 2 Kings 1:1-3 the Philistine “Baal-zebub” is Phalasephu”, i.e. false prophecy.
   
3. 
   Isaiah 2:6 “The house of Jacob practice magic and divination like Philistia; Philistia is from Philiset or Phalasu, it means idolatry or magic, while the plural is Philasaphim (i.e. magicians; see Daniel 2:2, Exodus 7:11)
   

Please Note: Daniel 4:9 & 18 the Hebrew “Aphial- Saphiya” means chief magician.

4. 
   The truth:
   

1. 
   When Apostle Paul used the word “Philosophia” in Col 2:8, he took it from the Hebrew “Philisti” or Phalasu, (i.e. the people) or Philasapha (i.e. the witchcraft gods, elemental spirits, falsehood (Miphiloseph) or magic they consult, 1 Samuel 6:1-3, 1 Samuel 28:3-11, Isaiah 2:6, 2 Kings 1:1-3
   

To prove the above:

2. 
   Note Col 2:11 “we are circumcised in Christ”, but the Philistines or philosophers are uncircumcised (i.e. they consult false gods and spirits; 1 Samuel 17:26 & 36, 1 Samuel 6:1-3, 2 Kings 1:1-3 etc).
   

Very Important: Felix (Phelis) is a short form of philosopher which means fortune teller, fortunate or false prophet.

Note:

1. 
   See Proverbs 10:8, i.e. the Hebrew “Evil- Sapha” (foolish talk or speech).
   
2. 
   Note:See 1 Corinthians 15:36, for the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew “Evil- Sapha”, to the Greek “Aphron or Aphil (sapha) i.e. foolishness which is a shorter form of philosopher (see Col. 2:8, i.e. philosophy is deceit, or fine but false arguments, also called plausible (Hebrew “Phalasapha) see Colossians 2:4.
   

Note: Blasphemy is from Baalsapha (to plausible) Phalasapha (i.e. speak against God).

3. 
   See also James 3:13-15 “Phaulos is also a short form of philosophy, which means evil (Phili) or earthly wisdom; i.e. human confused (Phaal) speaking (Hebrew “sapha”. See BDB, 2007, pp 121-132, also Mansoor, 2004, pp 242-249 etc.
   
4. 
   2 Peter 1:16 see Greek “Phosphoris” (i.e. Lucifer, 2 Corinthians 11:14, deceptive morning star) from the Hebrew “Phali” and “Sophim”, i.e. consulting the gods (Isaiah 2:6 “Philisti- Sophiku”, or pagans and magicians etc) Hebrew Old Testament (1940).
   

Note; Very Important

• 
  Hebrew “Phili” or “Philoa” means extraordinary or spiritual; see Exodus 28; Ephod or Ephil (Saphne) i.e. robe for approaching God (BDB 2007, pp 65, 67, 86) or finding out God’s will (Exodus 28:29-31).
  
• 
  See Ezekiel 13: 18-20 Hebrew “Pili, Pilo, Pillow, Philo or Phoenix, i.e. magic bird).
  

Note KJV is pillow; or NIV, is magic charm or philosaphan, i.e. magic and witchcraft birds; or consulting magic and the dead.
EXTRACTS:

1. 
   Philisti Isaiah 2:6 (Idol or Sephur) worshippers (Phili) from the PhoenicianHebrew “Phalasophiku”, i.e. falsehood (Hosea 7:1) or Sophiku: idolatry, Isaiah 2:6 or strangers, gentiles or pagans.
   
2. 
   Hebrew “Philasaphim” (magicians) is Philistia (idolatry). See Exd 7:11, Isaiah 2:6. See Acts 16:16, fortune telling is Greek “python” or Hebrew “Sophis
   

ANCIENT FALSE PROPHECY PRODUCED PHILOSOPHY

Note: 2 Chronicles 15:16 “Repulsive” is from the Hebrew “Miphiloseab” or Miphiloseph.

Note: The word “Zeus” was from the Hebrew “Sephu”, Phoenician “Ziphu”, i.e. idols

Daniel 4:9 and 18 “Hebrew “Aphil- Saphir”, was translated as Beltesazzar”, i.e. chief magician in Daniel 4:9-10 and 18

1. 
   To further prove this, Apostle Paul in Acts 17:29-30 told Athenians to stop worshipping (Hebrew “Philal” Greek “Sebeo- mai or Sophon)or Gold and Silver plated idols (Sephir in Hebrew) or stone idols (i.e. Sophan in Hebrew). Hence, philasophan means consulting gods for knowledge.
   
2. 
   To further prove this, see Plato’s Dialogues (Asaju, 1999, p 36) Socrates said in 399BC “Men of Athens, I will rather die than stop practicing “Philosophy”. (Practising philosophy was consulting the cult or oracle of Delphi for inspiration or wisdom) (Please check this).
   

Note: Acts 17:30 (i.e. Resurrection) Athenians ridiculed Apostle Paul when he mentioned resurrection, since before Christ, magicians (called philasapha) claimed to invoke the dead to solve mysteries i.e. necromancy (Hebrew “Asaphim) which means many people doubted and questioned occultic powers (Bromiley, 1985, and Asaju, 1999, pp 30-35 etc) Isaiah 8:19 witchcraft and consulting the dead is saphilsaphim (or saphsaphim).

AGAIN NOTE:

1. 
   In Colossians 2:8; Apostle Paul transliterated the word philosophy from Isaiah 2:6 “Philisti- Sophikus” i.e. pagans idols or spirit (Sophimu) worshippers or magicians (Phili, Pilos, Phils; Ezekiel 13: 18-20) i.e. the uncircumcised philistines (or Phalasuph) 1 Sam 17:26 and 36. See Colossians 2:8-12).
   
2. 
   Turn to the Old Testament in its original Hebrew Dan 2:2 and Dan 4:9 and 18, “Aphia (or Philoa) Saphir (i.e. Aphilosaphia) which means “chief magician or extraordinary knowledge translated as “Beltesazzar” (in Babylonia) which means spiritual power to interpret mysteries and predict the future (spirit of the gods; Saphot).
   
3. 
   Very Important:Originally, Daniel 4:9 & 18 does not have the word “Beltesazzar rather what it has is “Aphia- Saphir” (See Daniel 2:2)
   
4. 
   Beltesazzar is only an addition of its Babylonian version.
   
5.