This realm of human experience is complex and diverse. In every culture across the globe, people give significance to the practice of interacting with what they believe is a spiritual entity or power. These powers may be in the form of gods, ancestors, spirits, or some other spiritual representation. Questions regarding the origins and development of religious ideas have fascinated scholars for centuries.
Some scholars maintain that religion evolved out of a belief in animal spirits.
This belief eventually evolved into a notion of numerous gods, one for each important animal. Most organized religions of the past thousand years were begun by a prophet or savior, whether historical or legendary, and focus on one god figure rather than many. Monotheism characterizes the traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam as well as other less known religions. Polytheism characterizes the traditions of Hinduism and many ancient religions and cultures such as those of Egypt, Greece, and Ancient Rome. This belief system sets up a tendency towards rejection of other belief systems.