Urreligion is a postulated "original" or "oldest" form ofreligious tradition (theGermanprefixur- expressing the idea of "original", "primal", "primitive", "elder", "primeval", or "proto-"). The concept contrasts with laterorganized religions such as the earlytheocracies of theAncient Near East and in laterworld religions.The termUrreligion originated in the context ofGerman Romanticism.
Friedrich Creuzer put forward the notion of a monotheistic primeval religion in 1810 – an idea taken up by other authors of theRomantic period, such asJ. J. Bachofen,[1] but decidedly opposed byJohann Heinrich Voss.[2]Goethe, in a conversation withEckermann on 11 March 1832, discussed the humanUrreligion, which he characterized as "pure nature and [pure] reason, of divine origin".[3]The final scene of hisFaust Part Two (1832) has been taken as evoking "the 'Urreligion' of mankind".[4]
Often used in the sense ofnatural religion orindigenous religion, the religious behaviour of pre-moderntribal societies such asshamanism,animism andancestor worship (e.g.Australian aboriginal mythology[5]), the termUrreligion 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 acreation may be the base of primality. (e.g.Biblical literalism, or literal belief in theHinduPuranas).
In particular,Urmonotheismus comprises the historical claim that primeval religion wasmonotheistic. Some have rejected this hypothesis,[6] and certainChristian apologetics circles defend it.[7]
Nineteenth-centuryGermanic mysticism sometimes claimed that theGermanic runes bore testimony of a primeval religion.[8]