
Originally Posted by
MarcusAureliusAntoninus
Most religions absorb things of previous religions. Christianity is mostly Jewish. Catholicism adopted many Germanic practices. If Catholicism adopts shamanistic beliefs you get Voodoo. Buddism is mostly Hinduism. Buddism in Japan adopted all of the Shinto beliefs. And Islam adopted many old Arab beliefs. (Allah actually predates Islam.)
The same could be said with nations. The Seleucids tried to be the new Persians. The Ptolemais tried to be "Egypt reborn". During the Dark Ages and Middle Ages, ever raising nation tried to make themselves look like the new Roman Empire.
Many things that are widely connected with a certain group, nation, or religion often predate them. If we had lost all history, people would think that Rome was founded by a Pope. Or that the Hebrews built Jerusalem.
EDIT: Sorry, OT random tangent...
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