Historically, the first type of worldview was a mythological worldview, which was, among other things, a special kind of knowledge, a syncretic view in which representations and world order are fragmented and not systematized. It was in the myth, in addition to the ideas of man about natural phenomena, about himself, the first religious ideas were contained. Therefore, in some sources the mythological and religious worldview is considered as one - religious-mythological. However, the specificity of a religious worldview is such that it is advisable to separate these concepts, because the mythological and religious forms of worldview have significant differences.
On the one hand, the lifestyles represented in myths were closely associated with ritualism and, of course, served as the subject of faith and religious worship. In this, religion and myth are very similar. But on the other hand, their similarity manifested itself only at the very early stages of coexistence, then the religious worldview is formed into an independent type of consciousness and worldview, with its own specific features and properties.
The main features of a religious worldview that distinguish it from a mythological one are that:
- a religious worldview provides for the consideration of the universe in its divided state into a natural and supernatural world;
- religion, as a form of worldview, as the main worldview construction involves an attitude of faith, not knowledge;
- a religious worldview suggests the possibility of establishing contact between two worlds, the natural and the supernatural, with the help of a specific cult system and ritual. A myth only becomes a religion when it firmly enters the cult system, and, therefore, all mythological ideas, gradually becoming a cult, turn into a creed (dogma).
At this level, religious norms are already emerging, which, in turn, are beginning to act as regulators and regulators of social life and even consciousness.
A religious worldview acquires significant social functions, the main of which is to help an individual to overcome his life's turmoil and rise to something lofty, eternal. This also includes the practical significance of a religious worldview, the impact of which was very noticeable not only on the consciousness of a single person, but also had a huge impact on the course of world history.
If anthropomorphism is the main parameter of the myth, then the religious worldview describes the world around it on the basis of its already specified division into two worlds - the natural and the supernatural. According to religious tradition, both of these worlds are created and controlled by the Lord God, who possesses the properties of omnipotence, omniscience. In religion, postulates are proclaimed that affirm the supremacy of God not only as a higher being, but also as a higher system of values. God is love. Therefore, faith is the basis of a religious worldview - a special type of concept and acceptance of the values of a religious worldview.
From the point of view of formal logic, everything divine is paradoxical. And from the point of view of religion itself, God, as a substance, requires a different approach from a person to mastering and accepting himself - with the help of faith.
This contradiction, in fact, is one of the most important paradoxes of a religious worldview. Its essence is that understanding of God became an example of phenomenal idealization, which later only began to be applied in science as a methodological principle. The concept and acceptance of God enabled scientists to formulate many of the tasks and problems of society and man.
In such a context, the consideration of God as the main substantial phenomenon of a religious worldview can even be presented as the most outstanding achievement of Reason.