I have fretted over writing this blog for some time. I want to first be clear that I think most people need religion in their lives.
Humans are unique in the animal world in their ability to ponder the past as much as they want and for no particular reason that is clearly adaptive. Some have suggested that reminiscence is a way for us to correct mistakes and be reminded of what to avoid.
We can also worry about the future and generate numerous possible fates. This brain function can serve clearly beneficial goals, but often becomes a burden, especially for those with high levels of free-floating anxiety.
We need safety, like all animals. We need social connection, like all mammals and many other animals. What better solution than to invent a god? A Church? A belief system? We can conveniently be assured in our minds that we are never alone, that we will never actually die, as we cluster and cloister with others in a tight, mutually supportive social system. It's a perfect solution, in fact. We are no more or less alone than any other animal, but we are aware of our isolation and create a great deal of anxiety becasue of this; we generate all sorts of mecahnisms to quell it.
Of course, as man first evolved, all of nature was a mystery, and in the face of the unexplained, we almost always decide that there must be some supernatural, all-knowing something calling the shots. Although this is intellectually lazy, it is emotionally natural. At every turn in our history, we have seen firmly held supernatural beliefs about our world shattered after science or simple discovery provides more concrete explanations for the phenomena in question. What is strange is that even now many cling to mystical explanations despite us having used scientific inquiry to explain most things in clear and naturalistic terms. Why? Because to give up the supernatural increases ones initial anxiety, shakes the foundation, causes change which is inherently stressful, and calls into question the entire spiritual history one has treasured and used to justify almost everything done and all that is desired.
The other issue here is the unsupported notion that morality and good behavior emanates from god. Religious people often say that without a belief in god, people would have no moral compass and would therefore travel in hellish directions. I hasten to add that most murderers and thieves believe in god, and that Buddhists are nonviolent, reverential people. I also would point out that there is nothing socially useful a religion does that cannot, and is not, done by secular entities. Another blog is coming to mind here.
It is no wonder to me why religion exists, and why it would be improbable that many would give it up. Can't we just have better social clubs that do good things for people? I suspect not. Not as long as there exists intellectual laziness, a lack of curiosity, poor educational systems, and governments composed of such people.
Humans are unique in the animal world in their ability to ponder the past as much as they want and for no particular reason that is clearly adaptive. Some have suggested that reminiscence is a way for us to correct mistakes and be reminded of what to avoid.
We can also worry about the future and generate numerous possible fates. This brain function can serve clearly beneficial goals, but often becomes a burden, especially for those with high levels of free-floating anxiety.
We need safety, like all animals. We need social connection, like all mammals and many other animals. What better solution than to invent a god? A Church? A belief system? We can conveniently be assured in our minds that we are never alone, that we will never actually die, as we cluster and cloister with others in a tight, mutually supportive social system. It's a perfect solution, in fact. We are no more or less alone than any other animal, but we are aware of our isolation and create a great deal of anxiety becasue of this; we generate all sorts of mecahnisms to quell it.
Of course, as man first evolved, all of nature was a mystery, and in the face of the unexplained, we almost always decide that there must be some supernatural, all-knowing something calling the shots. Although this is intellectually lazy, it is emotionally natural. At every turn in our history, we have seen firmly held supernatural beliefs about our world shattered after science or simple discovery provides more concrete explanations for the phenomena in question. What is strange is that even now many cling to mystical explanations despite us having used scientific inquiry to explain most things in clear and naturalistic terms. Why? Because to give up the supernatural increases ones initial anxiety, shakes the foundation, causes change which is inherently stressful, and calls into question the entire spiritual history one has treasured and used to justify almost everything done and all that is desired.
The other issue here is the unsupported notion that morality and good behavior emanates from god. Religious people often say that without a belief in god, people would have no moral compass and would therefore travel in hellish directions. I hasten to add that most murderers and thieves believe in god, and that Buddhists are nonviolent, reverential people. I also would point out that there is nothing socially useful a religion does that cannot, and is not, done by secular entities. Another blog is coming to mind here.
It is no wonder to me why religion exists, and why it would be improbable that many would give it up. Can't we just have better social clubs that do good things for people? I suspect not. Not as long as there exists intellectual laziness, a lack of curiosity, poor educational systems, and governments composed of such people.
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