In his work, the author conducts a retrospective comparative analysis of various religious teachings, on this basis he builds a general picture of religious thought, covering many branches of humanity from ancient times to the present day. Using the result of this analysis, the author assesses the potential possibilities and makes a forecast for the development of these teachings for the near and distant future, draws a conclusion about the former existence of a powerful first teaching, from the depths of which most of the modern religions of the world originated. According to the author, only the alliance of this teaching with Orthodox Christianity will allow the formation of a self-sufficient and life-giving national idea of Russia, the real foundation of its future spiritual revival. 2nd edition, corrected and expanded.