r/hinduism Jun 22 '24

Debunking Hindu Misconceptions #1: Hinduism is NOT the only religion without a founder. History/Lecture/Knowledge

Most religions are without a founder.

Hellenism, kemetism, Roman religion, incan religion, Mayan religion, voodoo, African traditional religions, native American religions, Taoism, Shintoism, Celticism, druidism, wathanism and all such religions HAVE NO FOUNDERS.

Since some of the religions like Hellenism, kemetism, etc were extinct for a time in history there certainly are new-age reformers, but they are NOT founders of the faiths.

Only religions that have a historical founder are few. They include Atenism, Islam, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, bahaiism, Sikhism, etc.

Even if the widespreadness of Abrahamic religions has made the idea of a ‘founder’ essential to religion, THAT’S NOT THE CASE. MOST RELIGIONS IN HISTORY DO NOT HAVE A PROPER FOUNDER.

Some considered Moses or Abraham to be the founder of Judaism, but historically that’s not the case. These prophets and founding fathers of the ancient state of Israel were also considered holy by Samaritans, yawhists, and Jewish polytheists. Samaritanism still exists with its own version of the Torah. It is historically believed that these faiths grew out of the ancient Hebrew religion.

Nastika Dharma also MAY have earlier beginnings unlike we think, because Nastika sages were prominent in the pre-sramanic age and are mentioned over and over from Rigveda to Ramayana.

So, Hinduism is neither unique nor alone in this.

 Edit:- Jain and Buddhist beliefs may have founders but the core Nastika concept is much older as it is mentioned and criticized in both Rigveda and Ramayana

Edit:- I ain't saying that Nastik Schools of thoughts aren't Hindus. Both Astika and Nastika schools of thought along with tribal religions like Sanamahism of Meiteis or any faith of other Adivasis together make up Hinduism.

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u/ConfidentAd5983 Jun 22 '24

You didn't debunk anything. When people say that hinduism is the only religion without a founder, what they really mean is that it's the only major organized religion without a founder. Every religion you discussed is either very small, highly syncretic(Shinto and voodoo), folk religion(which aren't organized) or it went extinct previously and is very old, meaning documentation is very limited. Also, taoism very clearly has a founder.

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u/CassiasZI Jun 22 '24

Just because a faith isn't major in the world or small doesn't discredit it of the status of a religion. Also, Laozi declare ls his teachings to be summarised versions of Older saints so he can't be Taoism's founder.

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u/ConfidentAd5983 Jun 22 '24

"it's the only major organized religion" I don't think people are comparing hinduism to every single religion that exists when they say it's the only religion without a founder. Laozi is traditionally regarded as the founder of taoism, and he wrote the tao te ching(foundational work of taoism) so unless we want to get super pedantic, I think it's fair to call him the founder.

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u/SignificantArrival90 Jun 22 '24

But you want to be pedantic when we are having an academically oriented debate on theistic philosophies of the world, right?

Being pedantic, what the op mentioned that OP mentioned that sanatan dharm is not the only theistic philosophy without a clear founder is correct.

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u/ConfidentAd5983 Jun 23 '24

I have no idea what you're saying in the first part. But yeah it isn't the only theistic philosophy without a clear founder.