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Different ways of being human?
- Thread starter Eddi
- Start date
Discuss.
Methinks religions are different ways of being tribal. Being human is independent of religion.
Methinks religions are different ways of being tribal. Being human is independent of religion.
Aren't humans inherently tribal, by nature???
Quote. Different religions are different ways of seeing and experiencing the world. End quote.
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.
Eh?
We aren't hunter-gatherers
We have long since mastered such things as agriculture and bronze working
And live in settlements
Etc....
That's more or less true, if a simplification. For most of human history, there wasn't even a word for "religion" and it was simply who you are, who your people are, and what you did. That is, different ways of being human, in a way.
And 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
So early modern humans were not humans. And ibe been studying them for years.
Human had not changed its definition. Early modern humans (25/30 thousand years ago were still human)
Bull. They are structured via country/continent.
Religion is a method of keeping tribes together.
Atheism is a religion like not collecting stamps is a hobby
They are not modern humans just as wolves are not dogs, modern humans are domesticated hunter-gatherers
What goes for one does not go for the other
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
I'll let you tell the science of anthropology thst it's wrong and needs to start again.
FYI early modern humans (cro magnon) were as human as you and me.
I see you have not studded the ussr much have you?
Or the reasons for the pogroms against religion (and to a certain extent, atheiem) in totalitarian countries
Has it? Then why were atheists also imprisoned?
The only thing atheists have in common is disbelief in gods, nothing more, nothing less.
No it doesn't.
Biologically, of course, but not behaviourially
For being free-thinkers!
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 concept
The fact that there is a unifying factor makes it a tribe, that is defined by both in-group and out-group distinctions
Just as a belief in Jesus defines and unites Christians so too does a disbelief in in God define and unite atheists
Seems very much like a religion to me
Then how come on RF some atheists fill in their "religion" as "atheist"?????
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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.
Audie
Veteran Member
Make that " ways of avoiding seeing the world"
Audie
Veteran Member
Always a reaction?
How would you know that?
I might as well pronounce you a
(Reactionary) afalling saucerist or
aastrologist for saying " Meh, I
don't belive such tosh."