Religion stems from ancient pagan astrology.

[Minimalist]

I agree.  People created religions out of what they saw in their own environments. They more or less had to as there were no gods then either.  It is easier to see what they evolved to become rather than where they started, though.  Even today there are Hunter/Gatherer groups which retain a primitive animist-type culture.

http://genealogyreligion.net/why-hunter-...er-beliefs

Despite this variety, one can identify certain common themes, motifs and tropes that are characteristic of hunter-gatherer metaphysics.

As the site points out, humans spent most of their time as hunter/gatherers.