"Antes" traces the key stages of humanity's religious thought, starting with the earliest traces of religion in prehistory, through the early cultures in Asia, Africa, Europe, and ancient America, as well as the traditional tribal and nature religions in Asia, Oceania, Australia, and Africa, leading up to the major world religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. A separate chapter is dedicated to newer religious movements, including Sikhism and the Bahá'í Faith. The volume concludes with discussions on diffuse religions such as Gnosticism, esotericism, and astrology, as well as religion and modernity. It becomes clear how diverse the concepts of God, the world, and humanity have been throughout the history of religion. "Theological Science" serves as a compendium for theologians and religious educators.