05-17-2007, 10:52 AM
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#1
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General of the Attacking Army
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Pittsburgh
Posts: 12,904
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Interesting interview on Salon.com with biologist Lewis Wolpert about his book Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast: The...
From the intro:
Quote:
The Article wrote
He has a theory for why religion first took root. He thinks human brains evolved to become "belief engines." Once our ancient ancestors understood cause and effect, they figured out how to manipulate the natural world. In essence, toolmaking made us human. Similarly, early hominids felt compelled to find causes for life's great mysteries, including illness and death. They came to believe in unseen gods and spirits.
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I will grieve. Grief is not a theistic concept. ~ Sternwallow
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05-17-2007, 12:13 PM
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#2
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Obsessed Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 4,765
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I've always thought that religion was more a product of fear than of curiosity. We exist in a dynamic environment that is indifferent to our suffering; hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, pandemics, and tornadoes kill tens-of-thousands of us every year. The idea of living in uncontrollable chaos can be terrifying, so I figured that early man devised the notion of a supernatural agent that (1) created and controls the universe, and (2) cares about the welfare of human beings. The combination of those two factors allowed early humans to mollify themselves with the illusion that, while we cannot control the chaotic forces of nature, some other being can and will for our benefit.
The fact that this illusion is shattered with every natural disaster that wipes out thousands of us is, apparently, lost on the garden-variety Jesus-junkie. What is most insulting, though, is when Christpunchers say that some disaster or another is meant as a "lesson," implying that whatever they think their gods want them to learn is more valuable than the human lives it had to slaughter in order to impart the lesson.
a‧the‧ist (n): one who remains unconvinced.
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05-17-2007, 12:29 PM
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#3
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Guest
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I’m rather partial to theory that religion evolved out of our innate paranoia. We assume that the rustling sound means that there is something in the bushes. Its not a big step to assume that the sound of thunder is something after us from on high.
There was a great article on it a few months back. I’m sure I can dig it up if anyone is interested.
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05-17-2007, 01:08 PM
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#4
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Obsessed Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 4,765
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Quote:
Steve Paulson wrote
Wolpert...points to medical studies showing that the faithful tend to suffer less stress and anxiety than nonbelievers
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Blech. What Wolpert fails to acknowledge is that believers are less stressed and anxious than nonbelievers because the faithful like to ignore the grand sociopolitical and environmental problems that stress out the faithless, either because of the absurd belief that "god'll fix-er up" or the equally absurd notion that the world will end in their lifetime.
a‧the‧ist (n): one who remains unconvinced.
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05-17-2007, 01:17 PM
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#5
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Guest
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Quote:
anthonyjfuchs wrote
Quote:
Steve Paulson wrote
Wolpert...points to medical studies showing that the faithful tend to suffer less stress and anxiety than nonbelievers
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Blech. What Wolpert fails to acknowledge is that believers are less stressed and anxious than nonbelievers because the faithful like to ignore the grand sociopolitical and environmental problems that stress out the faithless, either because of the absurd belief that "god'll fix-er up" or the equally absurd notion that the world will end in their lifetime.
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I disagree I think that ignoring the greater worries of life happens just as much for non believers as for believers. It wouldn’t surprise me that they have less stress because they have a better social network than many nonbelievers. They also think they have a sky daddy waiting to smack down people who are mean to them. I cant count the number of times I heard growing up “don’t worry god will take care of it”
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05-17-2007, 04:45 PM
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#6
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Guest
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I'm going to go with Anthony on this. I think they just ignore the problems of dealing with worrying about "what's next" or maybe even the fucknig apocalypse, but one day it will come back to brutally slap them in the face. We will then have the problem of suicide on our hands... :/
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05-17-2007, 05:36 PM
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#7
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Guest
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Quote:
Professor Chaos wrote
Interesting interview on Salon.com with biologist Lewis Wolpert about his book Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast: The Evolutionary Origins of Belief
From the intro:
Quote:
The Article wrote
He has a theory for why religion first took root. He thinks human brains evolved to become "belief engines." Once our ancient ancestors understood cause and effect, they figured out how to manipulate the natural world. In essence, toolmaking made us human. Similarly, early hominids felt compelled to find causes for life's great mysteries, including illness and death. They came to believe in unseen gods and spirits.
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I'm reading a book right now called the God Part of the Brain http://www.godpart.com/. The author speculates that modern man evolved a spiritual part of the brain to cope with the realities and anxiety of death and mortality.
I think we evolved a susceptibility to believe in the supernatural.
From an evolutionary standpoint, if early man believed life was pointless or didn't have a defense mechanism to deal with mortality and death of loved one, he or she may not have procreated or put any value on life, and we would be extinct by now or we might just be like the bonobos and run around naked all day humping every member of our family 24/7.
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05-17-2007, 07:07 PM
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#8
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Guest
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I am currently reading a book, Why God Won't Go Away, that dives into brain science and the biology of belief. It is a pretty short book, and I would encourage anyone interested in this thread to read it. It talks about humanitie's "need" for a divine power for security in their lives. It also discusses what prats of the brain make us believe. A very interesting read indeed. :D
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05-18-2007, 10:29 PM
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#9
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I Live Here
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 20,925
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Quote:
Professor Chaos wrote
Interesting interview on Salon.com with biologist Lewis Wolpert about his book Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast: The Evolutionary Origins of Belief
From the intro:
Quote:
The Article wrote
He has a theory for why religion first took root. He thinks human brains evolved to become "belief engines." Once our ancient ancestors understood cause and effect, they figured out how to manipulate the natural world. In essence, toolmaking made us human. Similarly, early hominids felt compelled to find causes for life's great mysteries, including illness and death. They came to believe in unseen gods and spirits.
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I think religion just fell out of some caveman's asshole, and another caveman picked it up, believing it was worth something. :/
The Leprechauns do not forbid the drawing of Their images, as long as we color within the lines. ~ Ghoulslime H Christ, Prophet, Seer, Revelator, and Masturbator
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05-18-2007, 11:13 PM
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#10
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I Live Here
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 23,211
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Quote:
ghoulslime wrote
Quote:
Professor Chaos wrote
Interesting interview on Salon.com with biologist Lewis Wolpert about his book Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast: The Evolutionary Origins of Belief
From the intro:
Quote:
The Article wrote
He has a theory for why religion first took root. He thinks human brains evolved to become "belief engines." Once our ancient ancestors understood cause and effect, they figured out how to manipulate the natural world. In essence, toolmaking made us human. Similarly, early hominids felt compelled to find causes for life's great mysteries, including illness and death. They came to believe in unseen gods and spirits.
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I think religion just fell out of some caveman's asshole, and another caveman picked it up, believing it was worth something. :/
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And, when he discovered that it was worth nothing, he proceeded to sell it at high price as a holy relic.
"Those who most loudly proclaim their honesty are least likely to possess it."
"Atheism: rejecting all absurdity." S.H.
"Reality, the God alternative"
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05-18-2007, 11:29 PM
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#11
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I Live Here
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 20,925
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Quote:
Sternwallow wrote
Quote:
ghoulslime wrote
I think religion just fell out of some caveman's asshole, and another caveman picked it up, believing it was worth something. :/
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And, when he discovered that it was worth nothing, he proceeded to sell it at high price as a holy relic.
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Then once he realized that somebody was stupid enough to pay for it, he was well on his way to becoming the Poop - Poop Og I.
The Leprechauns do not forbid the drawing of Their images, as long as we color within the lines. ~ Ghoulslime H Christ, Prophet, Seer, Revelator, and Masturbator
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05-19-2007, 12:03 AM
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#12
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I Live Here
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 23,211
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Quote:
ghoulslime wrote
Quote:
Sternwallow wrote
Quote:
ghoulslime wrote
I think religion just fell out of some caveman's asshole, and another caveman picked it up, believing it was worth something. :/
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And, when he discovered that it was worth nothing, he proceeded to sell it at high price as a holy relic.
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Then once he realized that somebody was stupid enough to pay for it, he was well on his way to becoming the Poop - Poop Og I.
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He became famous for the phrase "It's gooood to be Poop!"
"Those who most loudly proclaim their honesty are least likely to possess it."
"Atheism: rejecting all absurdity." S.H.
"Reality, the God alternative"
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05-19-2007, 02:05 AM
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#13
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I Live Here
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 20,925
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In the beginning Og created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form until heaven fell from Og's steamy void; and Og smeared darkness was upon his face. When Og tasted what he had made, he found that it was good.
The Leprechauns do not forbid the drawing of Their images, as long as we color within the lines. ~ Ghoulslime H Christ, Prophet, Seer, Revelator, and Masturbator
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05-21-2007, 06:17 PM
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#14
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Guest
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Method congratulates Ghoul on the Randomest Post of the Day Award. :thumbsup:
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05-21-2007, 06:39 PM
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#15
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Guest
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Quote:
Method21 wrote
Method congratulates Ghoul on the Randomest Post of the Day Award. :thumbsup:
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You realize that that was two days ago, right? Or are you mormon now?
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