I disagree with your first sentence. While a social abstraction like religion is obviously not a genetic condition, it is an acquired characteristic (i.e. Lamarckian). While acquired characteristics aren't inherited, the propensity for them are: enlarged temporal lobes, self-awareness, knowledge of one's mortality, etc. Those are all genetic neurological conditions serving as a foundation for evolution of religiosity. Those are just a few examples I thought of right now, so don't berate me for not being comprehensive.
-
We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.
Why does religion still exist?
Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
I disagree with your first sentence. While a social abstraction like religion is obviously not a genetic condition, it is an acquired characteristic (i.e. Lamarckian). While acquired characteristics aren't inherited, the propensity for them are: enlarged temporal lobes, self-awareness, knowledge of one's mortality, etc. Those are all genetic neurological conditions serving as a foundation for evolution of religiosity. Those are just a few examples I thought of right now, so don't berate me for not being comprehensive.
imported_whatever
Platinum Member
Good old Marx...
for those who dont get this, he said "Religion is the opiate of the masses"
abracadabra1
Diamond Member
nice....i particularly liked this one.
asm0deus
Golden Member
science explains the conservation of matter
religion explains the conservation of souls
one is externally important, the other is internally important. science deals with existentials, religions deal with experientials. as long as you have experiences, you will have a system that evaluates them.
religion explains the conservation of souls
one is externally important, the other is internally important. science deals with existentials, religions deal with experientials. as long as you have experiences, you will have a system that evaluates them.
bluehorizon
Senior member
Excellent response 🙂
abracadabra1
Diamond Member
spoken like a true agnostic...or maybe even an atheist?
titles, of course, are somewhat trite.
i don't care for religion much myself, but i do see that some people draw great strength from it.
To even the most astute and knowledgeable scienctist, there are things in the realm of the human experience that cannot be answered or isolated with the scientific method. Consequently, it becomes necessary to cope with our inability to master the unknown. For thousands of years, this has been accomplished through the practice of faith. Individuals must have faith to help them deal with the surges of unexpected events in their life; it is a part of their natural defenses. Since the invention of the written word, the value of faith has inspired people to write it down, to form a doctrine of faith. This aspect of life has become so integral with other aspects such as: traditions, marriage, reproduction, law, and death. Only recently have our technical creations enabled us to see the folly of traditional doctrines of religion in the face of amazing, yet unpraised accomplishments. A growing movement of secularism coupled with the antiquated doctrines of faith can make religions seem outright foolish, as well as those who still follow the doctrine strictly. It is concievable that a new, modern doctrine of religion that incorporates our wonderous technology is just over the horizon, and may save us from our innate sinful behavior. To summarize, religion, in one form or another, shall always exist, as it must, until the day when we have answered every question and know everything, including why we are here.
Granted the OP is a troll, but it's been civil and intelligent so far, don't cry flame... er, wolf just yet 😉
Studies have backed up the genetic theory, and it makes excellent sense. Western cultures are generally existential, which makes it even harder to swallow the fact that so much about our lives is predetermined by genes. Like it or not though, it's true.
bluehorizon
Senior member
Because people are so eager to believe that something greater than them exists. Because they had a religious upbringing, and religious beliefs were forced on them as a kid. Therefore, they're nothing more than automations. They believe what someone else wants them to believe. Not one person can honestly say that if they weren't exposed to a religious upbringing, they'd have exactly the same beliefs now. If someone claims such, they're only fooling themselves.
Organized religion is a bunch of BS. Who in their right mind would live by some fictional book? For all anyone knows, the Bible could be a brainchild of some old homeless guy who had way too much time on his hands. It amazes me how naive people can be.
If someone wants to believe in a god etc, then fine, but organized religious, rediculous. More people have died as a direct result of organized religion throughout history (through wars in the name of religion) than any other single cause. Yea, sure, I want to be a part of that!
Organized religion is a bunch of BS. Who in their right mind would live by some fictional book? For all anyone knows, the Bible could be a brainchild of some old homeless guy who had way too much time on his hands. It amazes me how naive people can be.
If someone wants to believe in a god etc, then fine, but organized religious, rediculous. More people have died as a direct result of organized religion throughout history (through wars in the name of religion) than any other single cause. Yea, sure, I want to be a part of that!
bluehorizon
Senior member
😀 It's good to know you're not alone in your opinion, especially when it comes to a topic like this.
Outside of origins science does a sufficient job of explaining why. Science can't answer the metaphysical question of origins, and it doesn't intend to (although there have been a number of scientists who try to justify their belief systems with science).
Oh, and so you can stack the damn coins.
bamacre
Lifer
Part of me agrees with you, but only in the fact that science (as we know it) will never be able to fully explain everything. Science still hasn't been able to figure out what happened in Fatima in the 1910's. Haven't heard of the story of Fatima, I suggest getting a book, too many inaccuracies on the web.
asm0deus
Golden Member
The dichotomies have been around forever, physical versus spiritual, mind versus matter, existence versus experience, knowing versus feeling. Neither science nor religion can overcome them alone. Together (as philosophy) they can get very close.
Ideally, philosophy unites the genius of science with the ideals of religion. I would consider the final stage of a philosopher to be an "ideal genius". Someone who knows all the answers and knows all the questions and even further than that as one who seeks to share this with everyone (*cough* Buddha *cough* Christ)
The best scientist is worthless if he doesn't have the spirit to share his findings. The best spiritualist is worthless if he doesn't have the science to explain his spirit.
Ideally, philosophy unites the genius of science with the ideals of religion. I would consider the final stage of a philosopher to be an "ideal genius". Someone who knows all the answers and knows all the questions and even further than that as one who seeks to share this with everyone (*cough* Buddha *cough* Christ)
The best scientist is worthless if he doesn't have the spirit to share his findings. The best spiritualist is worthless if he doesn't have the science to explain his spirit.
Why is everyone saying lock this thread? It's a good debate topic... I mean if you think about it...
Religion on a whole is either:
Completely true in ever facet... Jesus Christ walked the earth and healed people and taught people the lessons of bible (Christians)
-or-
It's completely false and it was a great marketing plan for someone who wanted to make some money. Let's face it... you say that there is a higher power, you make it sound like you're trying to make things
better for people by giving them a standard rules for learning in this book called the bible... and you can't question it because you can't test God's power, and you should pay tithing every week... and all that percentage of your income goes strictly to the church and out into the community? ....you'd like to think so. Let's put it this way... if Religion (catholicism) isn't real... then there was a very smart buisness man behind it.
Religion on a whole is either:
Completely true in ever facet... Jesus Christ walked the earth and healed people and taught people the lessons of bible (Christians)
-or-
It's completely false and it was a great marketing plan for someone who wanted to make some money. Let's face it... you say that there is a higher power, you make it sound like you're trying to make things
better for people by giving them a standard rules for learning in this book called the bible... and you can't question it because you can't test God's power, and you should pay tithing every week... and all that percentage of your income goes strictly to the church and out into the community? ....you'd like to think so. Let's put it this way... if Religion (catholicism) isn't real... then there was a very smart buisness man behind it.
TRENDING THREADS
-
Discussion Zen 5 Speculation (EPYC Turin and Strix Point/Granite Ridge - Ryzen 9000)- Started by DisEnchantment
- Replies: 25K
-
Discussion Intel Meteor, Arrow, Lunar & Panther Lakes + WCL Discussion Threads
- Started by Tigerick
- Replies: 25K
-
Discussion Intel current and future Lakes & Rapids thread- Started by TheF34RChannel
- Replies: 24K
-
-
