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Chimpanzee Religion

Bear Wild

Well-Known Member
Chimpanzee Religion

Do Chimpanzees have religion?

Do we have any evidence that Chimpanzees have religious behavior or is there clear evidence that chimpanzees cannot have religion.

James B. Harrod proposed the following Trans species dimensions to try and define what may be observed as evidence for religion.

“· Reverence (showing devotion, intense love, deep respect)

· Careful observance, which may involve a calling-out announcement or remark

· Experiencing or expressing emotion of dread (awe in its terror or astonishment aspect) before that which overwhelms the subject by its magnitude, grandeur, beneficence, or lethality; mysterium tremendum

· Experiencing or expressing emotion of wonder (awe in its fascina-tion, curiosity, or desire-to-know-more aspect) with respect to a phenomenon (especially a movement) which is surprising, non-ordinary, extraordinary, special, or ‘miraculous’; mysterium fascinans

· Binding individuals together or back together in empathic intimacy or communion with respect to experiences of aliveness and animacy, including other living beings or things that appearto be alive, which may secondarily involve the witnessing of this by a collective social group. “



The article and its evidence can be read at this sight.

www.researchgate.net/publication/276915021_The_Case_for_Chimpanzee_Religion_2014



The evolution of humans behavior patterns has created religion in humans. Certainly our closely related family on this planet – the other apes – have significant behavioral traits in common with us.

Is there a case for chimpanzee religion?
 

Bear Wild

Well-Known Member
The things you list seem ordinary traits unrelated to religion.
It was not my list but a proposed list by James Harrod.
Reverence? This seems to be a characteristic of some religions.
Binding individuals together or back together in empathic intimacy? This also is central to many religions behaviors.
Experiencing or expressing emotion of wonder? This also seems central to religions and is the driving force for those participating.
What behaviors are identifiable as religion?
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
It was not my list but a proposed list by James Harrod.
Well, I didn't say it was your list.
Only that you listed it.
Reverence? This seems to be a characteristic of some religions.
Binding individuals together or back together in empathic intimacy? This also is central to many religions behaviors.
Experiencing or expressing emotion of wonder? This also seems central to religions and is the driving force for those participating.
Those are things which would apply to atheists too.
What behaviors are identifiable as religion?
Icon reverence?
Holding church services?
 

Howard Is

Lucky Mud
What behaviors are identifiable as religion?

A differentiation of religion and what may be called spiritual awareness is needed here.

I think there is a common interpretation of ‘spiritual’ which doesn’t imply religion or theism.
For example Buddhists use the term to denote a sensitivity to one’s inner life, to the lives of others, and an intrinsic compassionate motivation.

I have observed and interacted with many spiritually developed non-humans, particularly dogs, cats and horses.
 

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
Chimpanzee Religion

Do Chimpanzees have religion?

Do we have any evidence that Chimpanzees have religious behavior or is there clear evidence that chimpanzees cannot have religion.

James B. Harrod proposed the following Trans species dimensions to try and define what may be observed as evidence for religion.

“· Reverence (showing devotion, intense love, deep respect)

· Careful observance, which may involve a calling-out announcement or remark

· Experiencing or expressing emotion of dread (awe in its terror or astonishment aspect) before that which overwhelms the subject by its magnitude, grandeur, beneficence, or lethality; mysterium tremendum

· Experiencing or expressing emotion of wonder (awe in its fascina-tion, curiosity, or desire-to-know-more aspect) with respect to a phenomenon (especially a movement) which is surprising, non-ordinary, extraordinary, special, or ‘miraculous’; mysterium fascinans

· Binding individuals together or back together in empathic intimacy or communion with respect to experiences of aliveness and animacy, including other living beings or things that appearto be alive, which may secondarily involve the witnessing of this by a collective social group. “



The article and its evidence can be read at this sight.

www.researchgate.net/publication/276915021_The_Case_for_Chimpanzee_Religion_2014



The evolution of humans behavior patterns has created religion in humans. Certainly our closely related family on this planet – the other apes – have significant behavioral traits in common with us.

Is there a case for chimpanzee religion?
So where are the religious examples?

Is there a Jesus ape walking around somewhere feeding multitudes and healing the sick?
 

The Hammer

[REDACTED]
Premium Member
Chimpanzee Religion

Do Chimpanzees have religion?

Do we have any evidence that Chimpanzees have religious behavior or is there clear evidence that chimpanzees cannot have religion.

James B. Harrod proposed the following Trans species dimensions to try and define what may be observed as evidence for religion.

“· Reverence (showing devotion, intense love, deep respect)

· Careful observance, which may involve a calling-out announcement or remark

· Experiencing or expressing emotion of dread (awe in its terror or astonishment aspect) before that which overwhelms the subject by its magnitude, grandeur, beneficence, or lethality; mysterium tremendum

· Experiencing or expressing emotion of wonder (awe in its fascina-tion, curiosity, or desire-to-know-more aspect) with respect to a phenomenon (especially a movement) which is surprising, non-ordinary, extraordinary, special, or ‘miraculous’; mysterium fascinans

· Binding individuals together or back together in empathic intimacy or communion with respect to experiences of aliveness and animacy, including other living beings or things that appearto be alive, which may secondarily involve the witnessing of this by a collective social group. “



The article and its evidence can be read at this sight.

www.researchgate.net/publication/276915021_The_Case_for_Chimpanzee_Religion_2014



The evolution of humans behavior patterns has created religion in humans. Certainly our closely related family on this planet – the other apes – have significant behavioral traits in common with us.

Is there a case for chimpanzee religion?

Bonobos are closer to us socially than Chimpanzees, maybe the study author should look there first.
 

Heyo

Veteran Member
There's no clear definition for religion. A lot of people around the world see religion differently. So that's the hard part.
Yep. I wouldn't look for religious behavior or at least wouldn't call so. I'd look for signs of spirituality or cultic behavior like elephants seem to mourn and remember their dead. I'd expect signs of veneration for an object with no apparent purpose or a place. I'd expect taboos.
We have these signs in the archaology of early humans. We have hints from anthropology that animism may be the first form of religion or a step on the way to religion (depending how you define it).
 

night912

Well-Known Member
Yep. I wouldn't look for religious behavior or at least wouldn't call so. I'd look for signs of spirituality or cultic behavior like elephants seem to mourn and remember their dead. I'd expect signs of veneration for an object with no apparent purpose or a place. I'd expect taboos.
We have these signs in the archaology of early humans. We have hints from anthropology that animism may be the first form of religion or a step on the way to religion (depending how you define it).
And some who "practiced" animism didn't refer to it as their religion. It was simply part of their culture.
 

Darkforbid

Well-Known Member
Bonobos are closer to us socially than Chimpanzees, maybe the study author should look there first.

'Bonobos and Chimpanzees are BOTH our closest relatives Bonobos and Chimpanzees both share close to 98%'

And socially we don't use sex for group bonding like bonobos
 

9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
It was not my list but a proposed list by James Harrod.
Reverence? This seems to be a characteristic of some religions.
Binding individuals together or back together in empathic intimacy? This also is central to many religions behaviors.
Experiencing or expressing emotion of wonder? This also seems central to religions and is the driving force for those participating.
They're also characteristics of many things that aren't religions, so they seem pretty useless for determining whether something is practicing "religion."


What behaviors are identifiable as religion?
Behaviours that are specific to religion.
 

Darkforbid

Well-Known Member
Wait for me Jesus!

giphy (1).gif
 

Erebus

Well-Known Member
There have been a few cases where chimps were observed to behave in what might be seen as ritualistic ways. Piling rocks into certain hollow trees was one such example.

However, assuming that this must mean they're engaging in a crude form of religion is very premature. We don't know precisely what this behaviour indicates. For example, it might just be a means of storing tools.* It could also be a means of marking out territory. Some animals will gather objects as part of a mating ritual so that's another possibility.

It's interesting for sure but we shouldn't jump the gun.


*Chimps sometimes use rocks to crack open nuts or sticks to fish for insects.
 
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