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I feel quite strongly that without the development of the concept of religion, mankind would not have developed much beyond the hunter gatherer stage of evolution.
All words are symbols of meaning and most religious words are in fact metaphors for describing things that cannot easily be described at all. In context many religious works in the past were never intended to be factually precise at all.
Is there anything in religion anybody has heard that makes them think there may be something in what is being said here. ...
The only mention of "god" in a science forum should be in relation to mental disorders or psycotropic drugs
David I do not go along with a lot of your verbal mumbo jumbo.
Let me clarify why I feel religion was so important in ensuring the development of mankind. Hunter gatherers rely on small mobile family groups co-operating to succeed. To create a technological society we need co-operation between very large groups of people. A common religion and worship creates this bigger bonding needed to achieve big projects that go well beyond the lives of individuals
David you may be interested that I have just found the first reasonably serious scientific paper dealing with my suggestion that religion drove social cohesion and development it is in 17 March issue of New Scientist which has a special section on the science of religion it is called "the idea that launched a thousand civilisations" Up until now I thought i was in a minority of one with this idea.
Dont understand your comment re mumbo jumbo. I was talking about all your stuff about souls and eggs you can't detect etc It just seems meaningless. Maybe it is.
it is hard to avoid religion in America
I am therefore a practicing member of the Church of England (because this is the local brand and they were prepared to accept me as a member on the above terms)
A common religion and worship creates this bigger bonding needed to achieve big projects that go well beyond the lives of individuals