Quite often I read religion A is copied from religion B.
Then someone else answers no! because religion B is copied from C which is copied from A.
On top of that many religions have a same structure.
Heaven, hell, God, messiah, apostles (even 12), virgin birth etc etc.
So I would like some solid time line that answers all that stuff.
You know I have seen that 2. Did'nt know that other religion have 12 apostles and virgin births tho? What I have seen is that some other religions have a kind of heaven and hell structure. As for what the oldest religion is I am not sure. Then again I don't think anyone is sure. This link might help you.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_oldest_known_religion_in_the_world
Found this info here http://www.teachinghearts.org/dre17httmystery.html while looking for something else...remembered this thread and thought it might shed at least some light...
Corruption of the Message
I researched what was known in the past by looking at some of the claims to similarity in the Judeo-Christian faiths with the heathen belief. I made no assumption about their accuracy. The information was written by someone who obviously hates Christianity and who was determined to prove that Christianity is a myth based on borrowed legends derived from heathen religious symbols.
We know that parts of this plan [the mystery of God, Jesus revealed] were known before the world was created. (Revelation 13: 8) Therefore, their presence in heathen mythology is not a surprise.
Satan took these symbols and reproduced them in many cultures so that he could "muddy the waters" and leave us guessing which of these mythological figures, true or false, is the real Messiah. Fortunately, only Christ survives to influence the majority of the world. All others are mere memories.