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Author Topic:   The evolution of religion?
ogon
Member (Idle past 6129 days)
Posts: 70
Joined: 05-13-2007


Message 1 of 69 (403893)
06-05-2007 5:24 PM


Much of human life in all corners of the Earth, over vast periods of time, has believed in the supernatural. Whether it be spiritual ancestors, weather gods, suns gods, messiahs. Whether it be primitive Africans, native Americans, sacrificing Aztecs, Christians. Belief in the supernatural I believe ultimately developed throughout the world into what we would now call religion.
Is religion then judged to be part of mans evolution? If mankind evolved in ways that guaranteed his survival, hunting, gathering, reproducing, what role did the belief in the supernatural and subsequently religion play in this evolution?
Is it only now with the establishment of science that religion is seen as a tail no longer needed or used? Or am I way off course?
ogon
Edited by ogon, : made question more specific

Replies to this message:
 Message 3 by Dr Adequate, posted 06-06-2007 9:31 AM ogon has replied
 Message 8 by RAZD, posted 06-06-2007 11:43 AM ogon has replied
 Message 10 by jar, posted 06-06-2007 12:25 PM ogon has not replied
 Message 11 by crashfrog, posted 06-06-2007 12:34 PM ogon has not replied
 Message 16 by Doddy, posted 06-06-2007 9:34 PM ogon has replied
 Message 36 by numnuts, posted 06-21-2007 11:59 AM ogon has not replied
 Message 68 by IamJoseph, posted 05-04-2008 10:45 PM ogon has not replied

  
ogon
Member (Idle past 6129 days)
Posts: 70
Joined: 05-13-2007


Message 12 of 69 (404087)
06-06-2007 3:19 PM
Reply to: Message 3 by Dr Adequate
06-06-2007 9:31 AM


Re: Make Of This What You Will
I have to admit it Doc, I just don't get this one?
ogon

This message is a reply to:
 Message 3 by Dr Adequate, posted 06-06-2007 9:31 AM Dr Adequate has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 15 by Dr Adequate, posted 06-06-2007 5:05 PM ogon has replied

  
ogon
Member (Idle past 6129 days)
Posts: 70
Joined: 05-13-2007


Message 13 of 69 (404088)
06-06-2007 3:23 PM
Reply to: Message 8 by RAZD
06-06-2007 11:43 AM


Re: possible alternative view
Could you explain what having a spiritual attitude involves and how does one then promote spiritual growth?
ogon

This message is a reply to:
 Message 8 by RAZD, posted 06-06-2007 11:43 AM RAZD has replied

Replies to this message:
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ogon
Member (Idle past 6129 days)
Posts: 70
Joined: 05-13-2007


Message 17 of 69 (404194)
06-07-2007 2:18 AM
Reply to: Message 15 by Dr Adequate
06-06-2007 5:05 PM


Re: Make Of This What You Will
Okay, its a type of conditioning. And I guess this could be used in religion beliefs. For instance isn't it a type of conditioning where you are led to believe that if you do good deeds you will go to a nice place when you die, and if you do bad deeds you will go to a bad place. I also guess this kind of conditioning is reinforced through childhood, be good get a sweet, be good and santa will come, but be bad, no sweets, no santa.
This could lead to all sorts of superstitions and religious practices in the past.A primitave group could be experiencing severe drought and one guy just happens to throw a stone at a tree, at that precise moment there is a clap of thunder and the rains come. That tree becomes the bringer of rain and all manner of rituals and beliefs develop around the tree.
ogon

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 Message 15 by Dr Adequate, posted 06-06-2007 5:05 PM Dr Adequate has not replied

Replies to this message:
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ogon
Member (Idle past 6129 days)
Posts: 70
Joined: 05-13-2007


Message 18 of 69 (404195)
06-07-2007 2:27 AM
Reply to: Message 16 by Doddy
06-06-2007 9:34 PM


Could the natural fear of what is out there in the dark at night, predators e.t.c. have developed into a fear of what is out there after we die? Natural fears then leading to superstitions then leading to religions claiming to know what is outside the cave!
ogon

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Replies to this message:
 Message 20 by petrophysics1, posted 06-07-2007 4:47 PM ogon has replied

  
ogon
Member (Idle past 6129 days)
Posts: 70
Joined: 05-13-2007


Message 23 of 69 (404266)
06-07-2007 5:21 PM
Reply to: Message 20 by petrophysics1
06-07-2007 4:47 PM


Re: Religion results from experience
Yes many people have claimed to have seen ghosts over the centuries. Although they appear at all levels of society to all manner of people it strikes me strange that a photo of a ghost has never appeared fronting newspapers or has appeared as a main story on the T.V. news. I know there are many so called photos in books and on websites but after seeing quite a few of them non have been totally convincing. After listening to guys on the CvE forum and doing a bit of reading, I have to agree that most are tricks of the eye. The eye gets clues from what it sees and tries as fast as it can to get a match from the brain. Hence optical illusions can trick the eye into thinking it is seeing something it really isn't seeing at all. It's like coming to a verdict without looking at all the evidence. Therefore shadows become looming figures.
Reincarnation is a tricky one. Its typically religious isn't it. As for children talking about living before, well? I have taught hundreds of children of all ages and I can tell you I have heard the most amazing things come out of their mouths, via their imaginations. I've seen them talking to imaginary friends, I've heard them talking about strange creatures, their toys talk to them! Is it any wonder with some of the stories we tell them, with the things they are exposed to on T.V. The imagination? brilliant.
Over time I have studied theology, sociology, psychology, philosophy, all with a view to developing my spirituality but nothing has had such an impact on me as studying evolution only recently. It has certainly been an eye opener. All these subjects and everything you see and hear shapes the person you become. I have to admit, I thought I had things nailed down till I came across evolution. Whether it is a good thing or not I'm not sure yet.
ogon
Edited by ogon, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 20 by petrophysics1, posted 06-07-2007 4:47 PM petrophysics1 has not replied

  
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