"Noah's descendants sailed and walked - migrating long distances in a few short years.
Thus ancient Egypt, China, Central America, and other regions soon became settled with their technology, sophisticated ancient languages, and the soon diverging cultures and customs.
The Creator chose a single family to preserve his worship, yet even as this family, soon a nation, came into being there were living prophets of the original monotheism: When Abraham was in Canaan he met Melchizedek, the priest of the Most High God (Genesis 14:18-20).
The Old Testament's Book of Numbers, chapters 22 through 24, describes how the prophet Balaam, was asked to curse Abraham's descendants just prior to their conquest of Canaan. A study of numerous world traditions echoes the above Scriptural idea that originally all mankind once followed the Lord and then fell away.
There are many evidences of the loss of the original world monotheism, and descent into paganism. The key early literate
civilizations of Sumeria, Egypt, India, China and Mexico all show signs of having once been monotheistic. Some primitive peoples of Africa, North America and Japan embraced the idea of a single Creator God, yet for all practical purposes they had later abandoned His worship for that of spirits. This journey from monotheism to spirit worship in the case of Sumeria, Egypt, India and Mexico led to the worship of many gods.
Archaeologists have discovered that the further back in Sumerian history you go, the more prominent the sky god An appears: so many believe he was once the sole god of Sumeria.
Evidences for worship of "The One God" in Egypt are more abundant and at the same time more confusing. Hymns like the following are abundant in Egyptian literature:
From a Biblical perspective the idea of oneness probably lingered on long after this culture had departed from worship of The One Creator.
The monotheistic heritage of India is clearly revealed in her earliest scripture, the Rig Veda:
The Chinese originally worshipped a deity whose name, Shang Ti (上帝; Shangdi), translates into English as "Supreme Lord" or Lord Above."
All things were made by Him, all punishments and rewards were ultimately traceable to Him.
Passing generations subsequently gave an increasing attention to the underlying laws of God, but at the same time forgetting His personality.
The early peoples of Mexico may have had a single Creator God. (Different "experts" argue as to whether He and his wife were separate entities or different aspects of the same being).
One legend tells how He made a garden or city - of eternal Summer and flowing waters. God set a beautiful tree in the middle of this garden and ordered the lesser gods not to touch it. These lesser divinities disobeyed and tore great strips from the tree in their zeal to deflower it. As a result God threw these "gods" Out of the garden and gave them various tasks to perform.
The white skinned Ainu of Japan believe in a single Creator God, but think that He is too remote to be interested in men: so the Ainu deal with spirits.
Many North American Indian tribes believe that the Creator appointed spirits as intermediates between man and God.
And over time ... their original monotheistic beliefs began to dim in their minds.
Subsequent generations of humanity grew increasingly indifferent to their Creator, as (New Testament) Romans 1:21-24 describes:
- Because when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness.
The Old Testament's Book of Numbers, chapters 22 through 24, describes how the prophet Balaam, was asked to curse Abraham's descendants just prior to their conquest of Canaan. A study of numerous world traditions echoes the above Scriptural idea that originally all mankind once followed the Lord and then fell away.
There are many evidences of the loss of the original world monotheism, and descent into paganism. The key early literate
Archaeologists have discovered that the further back in Sumerian history you go, the more prominent the sky god An appears: so many believe he was once the sole god of Sumeria.
Evidences for worship of "The One God" in Egypt are more abundant and at the same time more confusing. Hymns like the following are abundant in Egyptian literature:
- One, the maker of all things, the Spirit, the hidden Spirit, the maker of Spirits. He existed in the beginning, when nothing else was. What is created He made after he came into being. ... No man knows how to find Him; His name is a mystery and is hidden. His names are innumerable. He is truth, He lives on truth, He is the king of truth. He is life, through Him man lives; He gives life to man, He breathed life into his nostrils . . He Himself is existence; He neither increases or diminishes. He made the universe, the world, what was, what is, and what shall be. ... He hears him who calls on Him, He rewardes his servants, those who acknowledge Him He knows, He protects His followers.
From a Biblical perspective the idea of oneness probably lingered on long after this culture had departed from worship of The One Creator.
The monotheistic heritage of India is clearly revealed in her earliest scripture, the Rig Veda:
- In the beginning, who was born the Lord the sole Lord of all that is who made the earth, and formed the sky, who gives life Who gives strength, whose bidding gods revere the ONLY GOD.
The Chinese originally worshipped a deity whose name, Shang Ti (上帝; Shangdi), translates into English as "Supreme Lord" or Lord Above."
All things were made by Him, all punishments and rewards were ultimately traceable to Him.
Passing generations subsequently gave an increasing attention to the underlying laws of God, but at the same time forgetting His personality.
The early peoples of Mexico may have had a single Creator God. (Different "experts" argue as to whether He and his wife were separate entities or different aspects of the same being).
One legend tells how He made a garden or city - of eternal Summer and flowing waters. God set a beautiful tree in the middle of this garden and ordered the lesser gods not to touch it. These lesser divinities disobeyed and tore great strips from the tree in their zeal to deflower it. As a result God threw these "gods" Out of the garden and gave them various tasks to perform.
The white skinned Ainu of Japan believe in a single Creator God, but think that He is too remote to be interested in men: so the Ainu deal with spirits.
Many North American Indian tribes believe that the Creator appointed spirits as intermediates between man and God.
This alienation from God is perhaps best expressed by a west African native who describes the Creator God of his culture:
Yes, He made us; but having made us, He abandoned us, does not care for us; He is far from us. Why should we care for Him? He does not help or harm us. It is the Spirits who can harm us, whom we fear and worship, and for whom we care."
RoyL.Hales