Religion: a survival mechanism?

There are many, many such examples. My own family contains one such example. A distant relative was capture by Christians and held for ransom. Eventually, after years of captivity she converted to Christianity and married one of her captors.We often hear that Islam was spread by the sword. Christianity was most certainly spread by the sword and a vast number of Christians accepted the religion only for that very reason. In addition, unlike Islam that not only allowed but encouraged conquered people to retain their own National Identity, Religions and Cultures, Christianity usually set out immediately to destroy and obliterate any evidence, knowledge or remnants of such Identity, Religion or Culture.This is why I believe that anyone who considers himself or herself as a Christian should be aware of both the good and bad that's been done. Unless we know and understand such things we will continue to practice them. Those who forget history will relive it.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Bonding and Authority can both play a part as survival mechanisms. In fact, when you examine most early cultures the line between religion and civil authority blurs to the point where it is often difficult to separate the two. This is particularly true when you look at the Eastern Religions, the early societies around the Mediterranean and those that we know of in the Americas and may well be true of all cultures.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

As depicted in the Genesis myths, yup. It was real fear and surprise.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion