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Aren't humans inherently tribal, by nature???Discuss.
Methinks religions are different ways of being tribal. Being human is independent of religion.
Aren't humans inherently tribal, by nature???
Meerkats don't have religionSo are meercats and they ate not human
Meerkats don't have religion
They are not tribal in the same ways as humans
Early humans were in a state of nature.Correct they don't have a religion in the same way early humans didn't have what you would call a religion.
A tribe is a tribe
Early humans were in a state of nature.
For the most part, contemporary humans are entirely different and are not in a state of nature.
We aren't hunter-gatherers
We aren't hunter-gatherers
We have long since mastered such things as agriculture and bronze working
And live in settlements
Etc....
They define humanity as it is currently, not including isolated hunter-gatherer tribesAnd adopted religion. These things dont define humanity.
They define humanity as it is currently, not including isolated hunter-gatherer tribes
Such human societies are structured according to religious identities, which includes Atheism
Different religions are different ways of being human - in societies that have advanced beyond a state of nature
Religions and religious identities are a part of what it means to be a modern human
Including Atheism
They are not modern humans just as wolves are not dogs, modern humans are domesticated hunter-gatherersSo early modern humans were not humans.
Atheism has been used to do thatReligion is a method of keeping tribes together.
They are not modern humans just as wolves are not dogs, modern humans are domesticated hunter-gatherers
Atheism has been used to do that
Look at Stalinist USSR or China
Atheism has been used to hold together totalitarian societies
And I would argue that Atheism is tribal, that it constitutes a tribe
It functions just like any religion
Biologically, of course, but not behaviouriallyFYI early modern humans (cro magnon) were as human as you and me.
For being free-thinkers!Then why were atheists also imprisoned?
Then there would be no such things as "atheists" it wouldn't exist as a category of humans, clearly it is, if you can speak of "atheists", if you use that actual word and conceptThe only thing atheists have in common is disbelief in gods, nothing more, nothing less.
Then how come on RF some atheists fill in their "religion" as "atheist"?????No it doesn't
The only thing atheists have in common is disbelief in gods, nothing more, nothing less.
Quote. Different religions are different ways of seeing and experiencing the world. End quote.
Always a reaction?Eh, this is oversimplifying a tad. Atheism is always a reaction against the surrounding cultural environment, specifically the prevailing theologies. Because of how religion in the West became dominated by institutional religion, atheism in the West is also a reaction against institutionalized religion. Part of that reaction involves formulation of one's own creeds, ideas, and institutions... which at the end of the day is pretty analogous in form and function to those you find in theistic religions.