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How did religion begin?
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2015-09-11 at 10:46 PM UTC
It could have its roots in schizophrenics, amusingly enough. Recall coming across a rough overview on theories about schizophrenia, how the prevalence is too high to be explained without there being something to offset the natural reproductive disadvantage, shamans in some form being or having been a part of nearly every culture found.
I've actually read some of the bible, up until the last book by Moses (allegedly), where I could bear no more. I have no problem believing these were the product of a deranged madman.
Schizophrenia may very well be the vestigial remains of a primitive mentality and religion the remains of their culture. -
2015-09-12 at 2:32 AM UTC
I've actually read some of the bible, up until the last book by Moses (allegedly), where I could bear no more.
How did you get through Deuteronomy, Leviticus, or Numbers? The Books of Moses is either awesome or boring. Afterward, it picks up a little bit with Joshua, but I quit reading during Kings I or II.I have no problem believing these were the product of a deranged madman.
Mental illness is the West's favorite stigma now, since we're no longer allowed to judge sexuality.
That said, you're not wrong, but this is not madness per se. Madness is rare in individuals, and certainly no one person composed any part of the Bible, not after all that copying and re-creation* that took place.
* It is likely that some of the texts in the OT are in fact 'well meaning' re-creations of codices lost in war, etc. -
2015-09-12 at 2:38 AM UTCTo answer the question: even animals mourn their dead. This behavior in ancient humans, combined with events frequently inexplicable from their contemporary ignorance, led to ancestral worship.
Or at least, that's one way religion started.
There is also the etiological explanation provided above. Personally, I suspect that's somewhat later in the chain, but particularly witty savages may have invented the gods to distract their pesky kids. -
2015-09-12 at 2:19 PM UTC
To answer the question: even animals mourn their dead. This behavior in ancient humans, combined with events frequently inexplicable from their contemporary ignorance, led to ancestral worship.
Or at least, that's one way religion started.
There is also the etiological explanation provided above. Personally, I suspect that's somewhat later in the chain, but particularly witty savages may have invented the gods to distract their pesky kids.
Animals don't have the kind of mentality to be able to "invent" myths to distract each other. The modern human mind took a long time to develop, and religious beliefs are likely older.
Ancestor worship in combination with the stresses of survival in primitive times likely caused our ancestors to experience hallucinations. The ancient story of Horus and Osiris tells us how a dying king would become his peoples God and continue to rule over them from beyond the grave through hallucinations. -
2015-09-12 at 3:29 PM UTC
Animals don't have the kind of mentality to be able to "invent" myths to distract each other.
I don't make that claim, but thank you for pointing out the obvious.Ancestor worship in combination with the stresses of survival in primitive times likely caused our ancestors to experience hallucinations.
Dreams* alone would suffice to create some sense that lossed loved ones must still be alive 'somewhere.'
* or perhaps nightmares -
2015-11-08 at 5:07 PM UTCAnother factor would be the "spiritual experience" various people from various cultures have claimed to have experienced.
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2015-11-08 at 6:05 PM UTC
I think that's the logical starting point, but carries some assumptions regarding their ecology.
How do you mean? In looking at religions development we see an interesting chain. The earliest mythology and theology seek to explain things like those two orbs that move across the sky, how we got here and what our purpose might be. Whats the assumption? -
2015-11-08 at 7:57 PM UTCShamanism is real it's called witchcraft
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2018-10-24 at 2:54 PM UTCIN THE BEGINNING
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2018-10-24 at 3:59 PM UTCMost druids, witches and the like were schizophrenics, but a lot had genuine psychic abilities, like the ability to heal, tell the future, etc.
Furthermore religion feels good, it is rhythmic and ritualistic, which appeals to our hind/liserd brains, and it provides something to believe in to validate life and help give meaning to the suffering that is involved in every life.
It is also darwinian - for instance in the middle east tribes used to have their own "gods" in their capital cities/palace, which could be something like a carved owl, a goat-man, or even a golden calf, and when one tribe defeated another they would take the "god" of the enemy tribe like a trophy back to their own capital city/palace.
That sort of shit is even mentioned in the bible, the hebrew's god was contained in the ark of the covenant for instance, and was likely a saturnian black cube. -
2018-10-24 at 4:16 PM UTCProbably created by a patriarch trying to tell his sons that they were ready to hunt without him.
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2018-10-24 at 4:18 PM UTC
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2018-10-24 at 4:19 PM UTC
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2018-10-24 at 4:20 PM UTC
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2018-10-24 at 4:29 PM UTCyour face when all the jedi York ultra orthodox eat shellfish multiple times a day
OY VEY
https://gizmodo.com/5626497/you-swallow-invisible-shrimp-with-every-gulp-of-nyc-tap-water -
2018-10-24 at 4:31 PM UTC
Originally posted by Ghost your face when all the jedi York ultra orthodox eat shellfish multiple times a day
OY VEY
https://gizmodo.com/5626497/you-swallow-invisible-shrimp-with-every-gulp-of-nyc-tap-water
Literally anudda shoah. -
2018-10-24 at 11:52 PM UTCI wonder if the Neanderthals believed in divinity.
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2018-10-25 at 12:44 AM UTCReligion was first initiated by Satan, as a clever imitation of the truth. Like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
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2018-10-25 at 12:49 AM UTCReligion was instituted by God.
After the flood. -
2018-10-25 at 1:08 AM UTCInteresting question I've thought about before and think that there's something in man (especially early man) that needs to feel connected to a higher power. When one articulated it everyone went "a ha I knowwwww" and then they went from there.
I'd like to study early Korean shamans some more, that's always been very interesting to me.
