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It’s important to understand why religions have thrived to the degree that they have.
In my opinion they hold tribal and social groups together with an internally coherent set of ideas and beliefs. Humanity has achieved a huge level of success through acting cohesively as a group and religion is the glue that holds these groups together.
Most people are herd animals and individuals (contradictory qualities that can work well together) they need the structure of a religion within which they can define the boundaries of their individuality, a kind of psychological home space. Religion provides this framework.
Is religion for the weak minded? I don’t think so! Many people live very hard lives and they need any prop of support that they can grab on to. The emotional support that people get from religious faith can work against that crushing lack of confidence that we all feel from time to time in the face of life’s trials and tribulations. You are not alone…..A god is with you!
If I’m frightened and insecure I can conjure up the confidence that I need from this great external being. Religion is a testament to the power of the human imagination and how we can construct our own supportive realities.
Religions use a range of trance states to reinforce their systems of belief. Believers have these very profound psycho/physiological experiences in a worshipping environment and the obvious connection is made that these experiences have come from the good lord above. This is not true of course and it is quite possible to have these experiences without mumbling prayers and chanting to the holy one. I attended a drama workshop that explored the work of Jerzy Grotowski and most of us experienced naturally induced trance states without any religious connotations. A wonderful experience.
Obviously related to this are all of the heightened states of being that exist when you are emotionally and mentally stimulated. Religion helps to explain all of the sublime sensations and emotions that exist on the edges of our perception. That sensation that there is something out there or that you have been touched by the presence of a god. I do sometimes wonder if we are hardwired towards religious forms of belief.
People have this special relatively unique trait of consciousness and our awareness, our stream of consciousness is an incredibly rich and vivid ongoing experience. It’s terrifying to believe that this world that we hold inside our own heads is going to completely disappear when our heart stops beating.
Religion is a pleasing lie that helps us to come to terms with this harsh fact of life.
My only afterlife is the life I create during my life that lives on after I die and I’m not just referring to my offspring.
In my opinion they hold tribal and social groups together with an internally coherent set of ideas and beliefs. Humanity has achieved a huge level of success through acting cohesively as a group and religion is the glue that holds these groups together.
Most people are herd animals and individuals (contradictory qualities that can work well together) they need the structure of a religion within which they can define the boundaries of their individuality, a kind of psychological home space. Religion provides this framework.
Is religion for the weak minded? I don’t think so! Many people live very hard lives and they need any prop of support that they can grab on to. The emotional support that people get from religious faith can work against that crushing lack of confidence that we all feel from time to time in the face of life’s trials and tribulations. You are not alone…..A god is with you!
If I’m frightened and insecure I can conjure up the confidence that I need from this great external being. Religion is a testament to the power of the human imagination and how we can construct our own supportive realities.
Religions use a range of trance states to reinforce their systems of belief. Believers have these very profound psycho/physiological experiences in a worshipping environment and the obvious connection is made that these experiences have come from the good lord above. This is not true of course and it is quite possible to have these experiences without mumbling prayers and chanting to the holy one. I attended a drama workshop that explored the work of Jerzy Grotowski and most of us experienced naturally induced trance states without any religious connotations. A wonderful experience.
Obviously related to this are all of the heightened states of being that exist when you are emotionally and mentally stimulated. Religion helps to explain all of the sublime sensations and emotions that exist on the edges of our perception. That sensation that there is something out there or that you have been touched by the presence of a god. I do sometimes wonder if we are hardwired towards religious forms of belief.
People have this special relatively unique trait of consciousness and our awareness, our stream of consciousness is an incredibly rich and vivid ongoing experience. It’s terrifying to believe that this world that we hold inside our own heads is going to completely disappear when our heart stops beating.
Religion is a pleasing lie that helps us to come to terms with this harsh fact of life.
My only afterlife is the life I create during my life that lives on after I die and I’m not just referring to my offspring.
A sunday afternoon, a good time to consider this issue. Hopefully a sympathetic treatment of this subject though I am sure that my own position is very clear on this issue.
I have tried to ensure that some credit is given to the complex factors that drive religious belief rather than just writing religion off with a few dismissive comments.
Hopefully someone who has strong religious convictions could read this, disagree with it perhaps, but also feel that I have informed them in some way or another.
One reason for this submission is that I really like the way that interenet discussions force you to be very pithy and straight to the point. They encourage a very succinct style of writing.
I have tried to ensure that some credit is given to the complex factors that drive religious belief rather than just writing religion off with a few dismissive comments.
Hopefully someone who has strong religious convictions could read this, disagree with it perhaps, but also feel that I have informed them in some way or another.
One reason for this submission is that I really like the way that interenet discussions force you to be very pithy and straight to the point. They encourage a very succinct style of writing.
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I know this is old, so shoot me..