Does religion steadily develop from polytheism to monotheism

>>2908059
No, the only reason it seems that way to you is that the western world is connected closely and the abrahamic religions expanded trough most of it.

>>2908059
no you faggot

It seems like religions start off as animism, then mature into shamanism. From there the evolution can go in anyway really depending on the people that rise up to influence and the culture of the people practicing it.

>>2908059
Polytheism-->Monotheism-->deism-->Pantheism (Ego death)

>>2908059
what? no.
religion doesnt evolve like that.
at a primitive level. Humans around the globe shared a view of Animism. Basically the idea that everything has a spirit. (no gods yet)
Polytheism is a very common and understandable take on gods. Power is divided amongst gods as so noone overpowers the rest. This also means they have their own flaws and typically are more human-like. Polytheism is just looking at your society/tribe and thinking "there must be a tribe of higher beings"
Monotheism is extremely rare. The 3 monotheistic religions of modern(christianity, jews, islam) all stem from one original religion, Zoroastrianism. Zoro was rare for being monotheist it was highly unique for its time. It didnt evolve from a polytheistic view, it was its own independent view.
Atheism in religion only emerged where teachings in the religion could be followed without a need for a god. See Buddhism/Doaism/Confucianism/Sects of Hindu
You didnt need a God to obey the basic fundamentals of buddhism so its practitioners adopted sects where Gods like Mara werent needed. Hindu did the same thing. Daoism and Confu were more world views again in no need of a god. You cant follow the 10 Commandments on the Bible and be atheist.