2007-11-27 00:50:42 · 10 answers · asked by PD 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
When man acquired reason but lacked knowledge the invention of gods was inevitable. Since we are social animals, early sun and moon worship transformed into more complex hierarchies as society evolved.
2007-11-27 00:53:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
I'd say in the short term it's a breeding strategy to encourage tribal cohesion, and to enforce the power of the leader. In the long term it might be a repository of historical knowledge.
2007-11-27 00:57:18 · answer #2 · answered by expie 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, religion can help herd coherance, which is a general concept in kin selection.
Kin selection is the idea that it's beneficial to a member of a species to pass not only his own genes around but also the genes of those close to himself. Therefore, in a social animal, even a childless individual can effectively pass on its genes if it is helping its brothers and sisters survive or helping its parents have more offspring.
This accounts for many behaviors in non-solitary primates.
2007-11-27 00:54:58 · answer #3 · answered by LabGrrl 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
It may have to do with social bonding or potentially a hang over from the alpha leader/follower.
2007-11-27 00:54:42 · answer #4 · answered by Pirate AM™ 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Its an effective way for the tribal leaders to control and unify the tribe.
2007-11-27 01:07:56 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is a by product of our imagination and our need to see patterns even where there aren't any.
Imagination allows you to predict the future, even if you weren't in that situation.
Missing that big cat under the tree is a big deal. If you think you see him and he isn't there you are OK. Miss the pattern.......you die. So we see patterns even if they aren't there.
2007-11-27 00:57:34 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Read "Why We Believe What We Believe" by Andrew Newberg.
2007-11-27 00:56:39 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's a sidepath of the human brain.
2007-11-27 00:54:35 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
gives a group a sense of identity, a set of shared morals, a way of threatening individuals if they deviate away from the set rules and lastly provides a way of defining 'us and them'.
2007-11-27 00:57:29 · answer #9 · answered by numbnuts222 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i do know that every human culture has developed religion so it's universal in human culture.
2007-11-27 00:53:38 · answer #10 · answered by BonesofaTeacher 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋