According to anthropology: Religion was created in primitive societies to replace the lack of knowledge?

Question

Are our minds so primitive that we still need to hold on to irrational concepts in order to explain all natural phenomena?

Answer 1

That is a commonly held anthropological theory that you are presenting as a fact.

The Jewish people have a long standing tradition of washing their hands before they eat. In the Bible Jesus tells the elders that their traditions are not the commandments of God. Jesus did not say that hand washing was not a good idea, just that telling someone they are a sinner for not following the traditions of people was wrong.

Until Louis Pasture started getting physicians to wash their hands people did not know what germs were. Now we wash our hands all the time, especially before we eat.

For thousands of years there was a religious tradition based, in your opinion, on lack of knowledge, that turned out to be a scientifically important and healthy thing to do.

Of course, prior to knowing about germs all the "educated" people thought hand washing all the time was ridiculous and superstitious.

Aren't you glad to know that you are right up there with all those people who opposed men like Louis Pasture?

Hey, maybe you can get enough people to join you that you can start a new dark ages with your closed minded ideologies of religion.

PS: Religious people like Einstein have low IQ? Gee, lets compare IQ. Mine is 157, whats yours? And don't give me some cereal box mensa test. A real IQ test is done by a clinical psychologist and takes 2 or 3 days, very subjective.

Answer 2

Is your mind so narrow that you accept everything you read? I've read tons of books, and they all talk like they are the expert, and tell different stories.
I've learned that people want to be right! And exaggerate, and even subconsciously LIE to be right.
Natives didn't have all the Noise Pollution we have today in Big Cities, that deaden our spiritual senses.
And they Knew there was more to this world, than
the "excitement", (RIGHT), of the Big City!
In fact, all the things people use today to define Society's ills, are just excuses. Humans naturally gang up for protection, and then the city structure creates all the hassles. Everybody
stepping on each other's toes.
YOU GOT THAT!

Answer 3

I tend to think that people still believe for a variety of reasons.

The most obvious is lack of education. Do a search for "IQ vs. religion" and you'll see the correlation between how highly a person values religion, and their general IQ level. I've read many answers that, when boiled down, amount to the statement of "I don't understand how that could possibly be, so god must have done it". It's a refusal or inability to learn. This is usually the fundamentalist balliwick.

There is still a fear of death, and a hope for a better world than the one we live in. Most of the faithful tend to fall into this catagory, from my own experience (combined with tradition).

Some people need to have something higher on the food chain, so to speak, than they are.

Sometimes its a product of indoctrination. Take 12 steppers for instance. Part of the 12 steps (indoctrination) requires you to not take responsibility for your choices, but rather admit weakness and accept a higher power. It's a means to trade a negative addiction for a less harmful one (generally speaking).

Tradition is a hard thing to break. Some of the things that the faithful do have been handed down for millenia.

Answer 4

Alas, yes. We may live in cities but our brains are still those of the hunter-gatherers who trembled at the sound of thunder because they had no idea what it was.

Uncertainty makes us crazy. Science has filled in many of the gaps in our knowledge, and the scientific method gives us confidence that what we do not yet know will not remain forever beyond our comprehension; but for many people (particularly the less educated) the very existence of the gaps is enough to trigger that ancient anxiety and send them looking for a one-answer-fits-all solution.

A solution which the shamans are pleased to provide -- for a price.

Answer 5

Yes true. But you need to remember that religion is different than obeying and loving and having a personal relationship with God. Religion is MAN'S way of following God and is therefore wrong. The Bible is NOT a religious book. It does not put man before God. The Book of Mormon is a religious book in that it does put man before God AND puts itself before the Bible (believe this one first and if you don't find it here, I guess you can consult that "other" book). I go to church. But when someone asks what religion I am, I tell them none but that I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ who died for us all and saved us all if we would follow and believe Him as our savior. See?

Answer 6

Besm Allaah Ar-Rahmaan Ar-Raheem!!!

Islam doesnt explain all natural phenomena with irrationalities.Islam pushes the sciences. The Muslim scientists in the first hijri centuries provided the world with the basics of almost all sciences. They are examinating the nature, but they also bear in mind that Allaah is the One Who created the universe, and Who also created the laws in the universe.

And Allaah knows best!

Answer 7

I think it was more of a glorification of the mysteries... though in some forms you are right. Superstitions lead to religious structure... this is very well known. Gods and Goddesses were created as characters that symbolically glorified certain things. That is not meant to spite... I say this source-type because symbols are indeed very powerful. They can become as living creatures, spirits, gods... et cetera.

Answer 8

Religion developed in primitive societies alongside mathematics, science, and medicine. Damn all those irrational concepts!!!!

Answer 9

Our minds are not all that different than 10,000 years ago, not enough time on the evolutionary scale for any real difference to emerge. What is different is the stuff we are able to put in them, sadly there are those who choose to stick with the primitive nonsense.

Answer 10

Hello Ga.. :)

It was not my mind that sought out God..but my heart..

If any lack Wisdom, let them ask of God..

True Wisdom, will "Always" lead to Knowledge.. :)

I used to be an Atheist..

A miracle defies the very laws of nature..that is why a true Miracle cannot be explained by Science..

I say this in Love.. :)


In Jesus Most Precious Name..
With Love..In Christ.. :)