Adherents hold that Hinduism —one of the principal faiths in the modern world, with about one billion followers—is the world ’ s oldest religion , with complete scriptural texts dating back 3,000 years. Hinduism is generally believed to be the world's oldest religion and was founded more than 4,000 years ago in the Indian Subcontinent. It's difficult to trace its exact origin as it has no founder and is a compilation of several belief systems. Hinduism is the oldest living religion , with roots stretching back to the Indus Valley Civilization around 2300 BCE. It’s less a single faith than a family of traditions, united by common concepts like dharma (duty), karma (action and consequence), and moksha (liberation from rebirth). The oldest religions in the world have shaped cultures, laws, and history. These religions offer insight into the lives of our ancestors and the evolution of belief systems over time.