Why did humans develop religious beliefs given that no other species has religious beliefs?

Question

At least as far as we know.

Answer 1

If we were created by a supreme being as a higher life form than the other animals, then a likely answer would be "God gave us the capacity to worship."

If we differ from the other animals merely by virtue of the stage of evolution we've achieved to this point, then a likely answer would be that our tendency toward religion is some sort of interim measure, which helps us to reconcile a world that we have only begun to understand, but still have the capacity to ponder.

If we differ from other animals by virtue of some capacity for abstraction, then it's likely that our tendency toward worship is a desire to put our abstractions into a more concrete form, and to create metaphors and anthropomorphic entities to embody our ideals.

One thing that we don't understand with the animals is whether they also have religious beliefs or no. Within human mind capacity of understanding, definitely it is easy for humans to say animals do not have sufficient ability to gain such knowledge of having religious beliefs. But in a real sense, who exactly knows?♥

Answer 2

how old are you? because you are right for the second part of your question -- no other "specy" developed religious beliefs. absolutely right -- they don't have an intellect the way humans have. a long shot from who we are and who "the animal kingdom" is. back to the first part of your question-- humans developed religious beliefs because they could not trust "man" -- look at the history of mankind. in the 20th century you had men like idi Armin -- the African butcher, Hitler during WWII who erased from the map millions and millions of innocent
people..etc. etc. all other centuries bear their mark of inhumanity towards the human. enough said. if those facts alone -- do not convince you that humans do need "a religious belief -- as you state, conviction as some others would say -- then what is the purpose of survival? I rest my case. Not yours. Good luck when you find out the secret/s come back to tell us.

Answer 3

Only a white person would think that way. To us in the Native American community, especially us animists, all creatures have a soul or spirit, and most are capable of offering great wisdoms to us silly humans. The idea that only humans have a soul is both arrogant and cowardly, and anyone who thinks that probably has a very poor relationship with the non-humans on this planet. Just shows how limited the white man's mindset is. It's that mindset that makes people think it's OK to tear down the forests and rape the wilderness just to gain some grazing land.
We Indians have a phrase we utter when we enter the Sweatlodge: To All My Relations.
And those relations are not limited to only critters with two legs!

Answer 4

At least as far as we know. You are right sire! We are said to have developed a moral system, but we are also the only species to have devastated entire portions of our world, we "discovered(?)" god an created weapons, we made the laws and we broke them, an we call that "to be human"

Answer 5

Don't let the idiots bug you. This IS a good question....

Well, we do have higher thought processes, but I think our advanced ability to communicate has a lot to do with it, as well as our natural sense of curiosity (which is a trait shared by all primates).

I like the "At least as far as we know" qualifier you put in there. You've got a mind for science if you're willing to admit that you might not know. Good on ya!

Answer 6

Religion was developed to control the flock, it truly was a smart move for those that were the leaders of their tribe. They could not have imagined the cataclysmic monster they created. I see a lot of your answers where they use the word intellect and intelligent, back then man never had it when he created religion, he used violence and fear of what would happen to those that did not follow him.

Answer 7

Humans did not "develop" religious beliefs. God created Adam..

Answer 8

I think it's because human's have big frontal lobes, which leads to an awareness of self, which leads to questions of identity.

The human wants answers to his identity and his relationship to this world. These questions have no answers that can be proved. this is where ego creates religion. The ego believes in religious answers because it is scared not to know.

Of course, I could be totally wrong, but that's my answer for now.

Answer 9

We were created after the image of God. Other species weren't. It says in Genisis that man was to rule over other species and be dominant. Does that mean exterminator? no. But still, we are the Children of God. A lizard, is not a child of God. Hope this helps alittle.

Answer 10

you've spoken with an aardvark have you?
sorry, couldn't resist--
surely if one studies civilization, history, religious beliefs across the millenia, it is basic that belief in a Creator, God, is inherent within people--and it is there, because God put it there, 'cause He desires to have a relationship with His Creation---