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Pariah wrote:

mo' ron wrote:

We have to willfully seek out god to try and find some inkling of its existence.

I think it's a natural part of homosapien behavior to turn to the supernatural to explain the unexplainable.

I agree, but it's an evolutionary adaptation. Otherwise, religion would be generally consistent, rather than generally inconsistent (how many Christians or other religious people you know actually live like their religion says-- excluding those goofy Unitarians ?). From a rational standpoint, it makes no sense.

And not all humans are born with this inclination towards god.

D'Eyncourt wrote:

radarman wrote:

[snip]
Atheists are responsible for communism
[snip]

HOLD ON THERE! Let's get this straight: perhaps an argument could be made that Marx could not have written his Communist Manifesto had he not been an atheist (though I would argue that a utopian Christian society would be basically communistic [note: little "c"]: to each according to his need), but to blithely place the "blame" on atheism is quite a stretch. At best this is guilt by association (logical fallacy).

"Moreover, the multitude of those who had believed had one heart and soul, and not even one would say that any of the things he possessed was his own; but they had all things in common… In fact, there was not one in need among them; for all those who were possessors of fields or houses would sell them and bring the values of the things sold and they would deposit them at the feet of the apostles. In turn distribution would be made to each one, just as he would have the need."

The idea that God would create beings for which he could only feel disgust is one really big thing about Christianity I find appalling.

mo' ron wrote:

I don't mean to sound demeaning, but it's like santa or the easter bunny. Kids would never pre-suppose their existence, unless the parents didn't teach them about these things (then un-teach them).

The Santaists

Actually, the Santa Claus story is what set me off. If they were going to lie to me about that, how else are they lying to me?

Pariah wrote:

The idea that God would create beings for which he could only feel disgust is one really big thing about Christianity I find appalling.

That's unique to the Calvin-inspired Protestantism that dominated much of America's history, not Christianity as a whole.

Metacell wrote:

radarman wrote:

Why do we, as a species, seek so strongly to find god? What is the biological purpose of it? There have been some studies, but for now, it remains a question of faith. Are there any other species that exhibit religion, worship, of faith?

http://primatology.org/2007/01/31/on-go … -religion/

The gist of that is that religion creates stronger tribal bonds that promote group survival.  A very handy thing for primitive anthropoids who face constant physical  threats.

I rather like the bi-cameral mind concept of self awareness. Primitive human brains were so divided in to two that thoughts from one side were communicated to the other side without the individual aware that these were all his thoughts; he heard a voice in his head. After the brain developed a more synchronised way of operating, the voices went away and self awareness took over, but because the bi-cameral mind didn't break down until man had developed into a society, the memories of the voices in the bi-cameral mind have lingered.

The memories are inherited, then?

How do we know that, say, meercats don't have religion?

Ribtorus wrote:

Metacell wrote:

radarman wrote:

Why do we, as a species, seek so strongly to find god? What is the biological purpose of it? There have been some studies, but for now, it remains a question of faith. Are there any other species that exhibit religion, worship, of faith?

http://primatology.org/2007/01/31/on-go … -religion/

The gist of that is that religion creates stronger tribal bonds that promote group survival.  A very handy thing for primitive anthropoids who face constant physical  threats.

I rather like the bi-cameral mind concept of self awareness. Primitive human brains were so divided in to two that thoughts from one side were communicated to the other side without the individual aware that these were all his thoughts; he heard a voice in his head. After the brain developed a more synchronised way of operating, the voices went away and self awareness took over, but because the bi-cameral mind didn't break down until man had developed into a society, the memories of the voices in the bi-cameral mind have lingered.

I haven't read any research on the issue, but I can imagine it being more simple than that...

Our primitive ancestors had thought, but were relatively instinctive and passive... one person was born with the idea of religion and superiority, and went on a killing spree, killing off the passive humans and spreading his seed everywhere, then a new generation was born, more likely to be religious, and so on until you have modern man.

resedit wrote:

Metacell wrote:

radarman wrote:

Why do we, as a species, seek so strongly to find god? What is the biological purpose of it? There have been some studies, but for now, it remains a question of faith. Are there any other species that exhibit religion, worship, of faith?

http://primatology.org/2007/01/31/on-go … -religion/

The gist of that is that religion creates stronger tribal bonds that promote group survival.  A very handy thing for primitive anthropoids who face constant physical  threats.

One that our species and only our species needs?

Did you read the article?  It's about gorillas and chimpanzees (and us).  We have much less need for religion now...it's an evolutionary holdover that makes for a fun hobby.

Metacell wrote:

resedit wrote:

Metacell wrote:

http://primatology.org/2007/01/31/on-go … -religion/

The gist of that is that religion creates stronger tribal bonds that promote group survival.  A very handy thing for primitive anthropoids who face constant physical  threats.

One that our species and only our species needs?

Did you read the article?  It's about gorillas and chimpanzees (and us).  We have much less need for religion now...it's an evolutionary holdover that makes for a fun hobby.

I read the linked article, and outside of the title, didn't see how it had to do with God at all. No one is disputing that animals can display empathy. I've seen it in non-primates, such as cats and dogs. I fail to see how empathy equals religion, though.

Also, I don't see that we have "outgrown" our need for God. Religion and faith aren't the same thing. It is quite possible to be religious with no faith, and to have plenty of faith, but dislike religion.

radarman wrote:

Also, I don't see that we have "outgrown" our need for God.

We have outgrown our need to use supernatural entities to explain the world around us....but not all of us have caught on to that yet.

Last edited by user (2007-04-11 8:47 pm)

Pariah wrote:

user wrote:

radarman wrote:

Also, I don't see that we have "outgrown" our need for God.

We have outgrown our need to use supernatural entities to explain the world around us....but not all of us have caught on to that yet.

Nah, still plenty of unknowable things. We have not even put a dent into the serious mysteries.

Exactly.  Like why do hot dogs come in packs of ten but the buns come in packs of eight?  It's a mystery.  Or howbout when you're in MExico what do they always tell you?  "Don't drink the water."  But go to any diner in any major city and who serves you the water?  It's a mystery.

(the water joke is Ted Alexandro)