Native European Religions

Native European Religions: Exploring the Ancient Roots of Modern Beliefs

Religious beliefs and practices have historically been an important aspect of European spiritual life. Before written records, the inhabitants of the region held a variety of religious traditions that have influenced modern faith systems. This article explores what is known about ancient native European religions and how these beliefs evolved to form some of the foundational cults, mythology, and rituals still observed in many parts of Europe today.

Prehistoric Religion in Europe

Before written language and recorded history, people living in what is now Europe held spiritual beliefs and practiced rituals that were passed down from one generation to the next. It is believed that at this time, various beliefs existed depending on a group's geographical location and their relationship with their environment. Many early Europeans formed cults dedicated to gods associated with natural phenomena such as water, sky, wind, fire, animals, storms, or fertility. The practice of animism was also common throughout ancient Europe; where spirit-like entities were believed to exist in everything from mountains and trees to rocks and rivers and some may have even attributed human qualities like emotions or intelligence to these beings.

Myths & Rituals of Ancient Europe

The myths and ritual practices associated with prehistoric European religions developed over thousands of years. Creation stories were often used to explain the origins of certain natural phenomena, such as why certain plants grew or why the sunset each night. These stories served not only as entertainment but also as a way for ancient Europeans to view their environment from an alternate perspective that connected them spiritually with their surroundings.

These same tales often touched upon morality and served to educate younger generations about proper behavior within society, such as not stealing from neighbors or respecting parental authority figures. Ancient Europeans also had strong ties between death and afterlife rituals, which included burying possessions with the deceased, indicating a belief in reincarnation or continuation after physical life had ended.

Paganism & Polytheism in Ancient Europe

Paganism is an umbrella term that refers to any non-Judeo-Christian religion, while polytheistic religion refers specifically to worshiping several gods simultaneously. Both were commonly practiced by ancient Europeans, although some areas may have leaned more towards one or the other depending on cultural influences at the time. Some scholars have theorized that there was once a singular pantheon comprised of various deities that encompassed all people regardless of the region, while other experts counter this idea, claiming it isn't possible due to vast differences between cultures, both geographically and chronologically.

Evolution into Christianity & Modern Faith Systems

By the 4th century CE, Roman Christianity had taken hold across much of Europe, although pagan beliefs did survive. Even today, we can still find traces of these beliefs, such as specific holidays celebrated multiple times throughout the year, such as Yule (Christmas), Beltane (May Day), or Samhain (Halloween). With the arrival of Christianity, however, came an influx of new ideas related to faith, making it difficult to trace the specific evolution of pagan religious traditions over the centuries after the initial contact the Roman Empire had made with its many conquered territories. This led to the spread of Eastern religions and the introduction of Lutheranism and the Protestant movement in Northern areas of the continent, eventually forming the basis of many spiritual systems observed today, particularly in the Western world.