Atheists - What do you think came first?

Im not sure. Im thinking the afterlife was popularized by the ancient Egyptians. Back to caveman time, I think they believed in animism. I'm just pulling out random stuff...dont know.

I say belief in the afterlife. That is a big boost that got religion started. I heard Neanderthals had burial rituals so they must have believed that life doesn't end with physical death somehow.

Got me, I wasn't around 60-80 thousand years ago when the first mythical, superstitious delusions probably took hold.

But if I had to choose, I'd be on afterlife...the concept of "death" might have been hard for primitive people to understand, and since I'm sure they didn't *want* to die, making up someplace to be after it seems natural.

Peace.

Circumstantial evidence points to a deity (usually just some form of nature, like the sun or an animal).

Umm... without looking up historical references... probably gods to explain all the things that primitive man could not understand.

probably afterlife

I'd say a deity.