Beliefs of Ancient Civilizations

The ancient civilizations of the world have held an almost innumerable variety of religious beliefs but there were several beliefs that they nearly always shared in common. One of the most common beliefs shared among ancient civilizations was the idea of an "immortal soul".

It is important to understand the truth about this subject because Bible prophecy indicates that false beliefs about the "immortal soul" will be part of the greatest deception ever put on man.

Listed below you'll find the beliefs of various civilizations regarding the state of the dead and the "immortal soul."

Babylon had hundreds of gods, gods for the days of the week, days of the year, and for nearly every profession or trade. However, all the various factions recognized that the sun god was preeminent and believed that the dead weren't really dead.

Egypt also believed that when a person died they really didn't die. A present reminder of this belief are the numerous pyramids. These pyramids were the burial places of their God/Kings, the Pharaohs, who claimed to be Gods and immortal.

The Egyptians believed that the souls of those who were buried in the pyramids would ascend up special shafts and out of holes near the top of the pyramid. These shafts, by which the souls would leave the pyramid, were pointed at various constellations.


The Greeks believed in life after death, ghosts, and unburied souls who supposedly walked around the earth in a state of limbo.

It was believed that after death one had to be transported by boat across the river Styx, the mysterious underworld was said to be ruled Hades.

The Romans also believed in a spirit world that included aspects of the concept of an 'immortal soul'.

The Aztec, Inca, Maya, Mixtec, and Zapotec religions of South and Central America believed in various forms of life after death and that a 'vital force' would separate from the body after death.

Modern Cults believe that when you die you really don't die. A recent example of this was the "Heaven's Gate" cult which believed that after death their souls would be transported to a spaceship following close behind the Hale-Bop comet.

Most Religions of Today believe that when you die, you really don't die.

Budism, Hinduism, Paganism, Scientology, Sikhism, The New Age, and many others believe in the concept of reincarnation, that after death your spirit or soul can be reborn into another body.

Catholicism, the largest religion in the world, teaches that the soul is immortal. This belief, a mixture of ancient Babylonian beliefs with the holy scriptures prepares multitudes to believe that they can talk with and pray to the spirits of the dead. This teaching is condemned by the Word of God.

"There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee." Deut. 18:10-12

"Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God." Leviticus 19:31

The Bible teaches that the dead are lying in the grave, silently awaiting the resurrection at the second coming of Jesus Christ.

"For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun." Eccl. 9:5-6

"Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day." Acts 2:29

Many of today's Protestant denominations, while claiming to have left the 'Mother' church, have continued to teach her mixture of the Bible and Paganism. Most Protestant denominations maintain the Catholic belief that upon death the "immortal soul" is immediately transported to heaven or hell even though it is completely contrary to the scriptures.

The Bible teaches that the soul is mortal and that Christians will be transported to heaven after the resurrection of the righteous.

"Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." John 5:28-29

The resurrection of life takes place after Jesus Christ returns to this earth the second time.

"For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

Where did this false theory of the immortal soul originate? The Bible gives us the answer in Genesis chapter 3:4 "And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:" For more information on this subject see History's First Great Deception.