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Are we hard-wired to be religious?

PennyKay

Physicist
There is a quote which I once read whch says:

'Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful.'
What are your views on this, do you agree?
Do you think religion is a useful tool for the power in the world and if used cleverly, (like King Henry VIII) can aid them in controlling their people?
Do you agree with the pieces of evidence which suggests human beings are hard wired to be part of a group rather than on our own? Hinting at the possiblility that individuals choose to follow a religion simply because their instincts are telling them that if we are part of a large organisation/group, we have more chance of survival as we have more people looking after us than we do on our own. As we know religions can have followings of millions or billions.
All thoughts welcome.

p.s. Typed this up in a bit of a rush, so if you cant make sense of it, please ask further questions.
 

Otherright

Otherright
We as humans are hard-wired for belief and faith. We all experience it, even if it isn't religious in nature. Its just part of being human and there is nothing we can do about it.

It is a powerful tool for controlling the masses. Even more so when the controller is a believer as well, as it authenticates the idea.
 

tSeka

Learner
I think it's a result of our need for governance and our predisposition to create and follow hierarchies.

Religion is the result of these hierarchies, with the tribal leaders @ top creating them and those kind of spiritualistic delusions uniting us.

However there are several tribes that are atheist/agnostic; research the Pirahas of the Amazon for example.
 

sandandfoam

Veteran Member
I don't believe it. It is just the way it is. We all exercise faith and belief daily in creating our world views.
No. I do not accept that "is just the way it is".
You said
Neurologically, we are hard-wired for belief
If that were true there is a biological difference between my brain and an atheists brain. I do not accept that view.
For many years I considered myself an atheist. Is it your view that my reversion was biologically determined?
 

Otherright

Otherright
No. I do not accept that "is just the way it is".
You said
If that were true there is a biological difference between my brain and an atheists brain. I do not accept that view.
For many years I considered myself an atheist. Is it your view that my reversion was biologically determined?

No, belief and faith are not confined to the realm of spirituality. Like I said originally, its doesn't have to be religious in nature, but you still use belief and you still use faith to create your world view.
 

sandandfoam

Veteran Member
No, belief and faith are not confined to the realm of spirituality. Like I said originally, its doesn't have to be religious in nature, but you still use belief and you still use faith to create your world view.
I am not disagreeing with that. I am disagreeing with the statement that it is 'hard wired'.
 

Otherright

Otherright
Step outside tonight and look up at the stars. Pick any one out randomly. How far away is it? Look it up if you like. You either made this observation yourself, or someone else did for you. Either way, in the end, you will have a belief on how far away that star is because you personally can not verify its position. If you took someone else's answer, that is what we call faith.

In the brain, belief is processed, whether religious or not, in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. You are going to make a series of observations, or use someone else's observations, and draw a conclusion. You will introduce that conclusion into your world view.

Whether the observation is in fact right or wrong, you will accept it until at time that you think it needs to be revised. Then you accept that conclusion all of which is going to be processed by the ventromedial prefrontal cortex.
 

sandandfoam

Veteran Member
Step outside tonight and look up at the stars. Pick any one out randomly. How far away is it? Look it up if you like. You either made this observation yourself, or someone else did for you. Either way, in the end, you will have a belief on how far away that star is because you personally can not verify its position. If you took someone else's answer, that is what we call faith.

In the brain, belief is processed, whether religious or not, in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. You are going to make a series of observations, or use someone else's observations, and draw a conclusion. You will introduce that conclusion into your world view.

Whether the observation is in fact right or wrong, you will accept it until at time that you think it needs to be revised. Then you accept that conclusion all of which is going to be processed by the ventromedial prefrontal cortex.

As it happens I have an interest in vmpfc functioning. Particularly regarding the somatic marker hypothesis. Damasio is a large part of the reason that I am convinced that mind is intrinsically social.

I have no reason to believe that belief is processed by the vmpfc - whatever that means. Sounds like a shortcut to homuncular regression. Why do you believe it is?
 

sandandfoam

Veteran Member
BTW
Sorry, I am dipping in and out because I am (supposed to be :)) working

You said that belief is processed by the vmpfc - that sounds like a shift from saying it is hardwired. Is it?
 

bobhikes

Nondetermined
Premium Member
There is a quote which I once read whch says:

'Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful.'
What are your views on this, do you agree?
Do you think religion is a useful tool for the power in the world and if used cleverly, (like King Henry VIII) can aid them in controlling their people?
Do you agree with the pieces of evidence which suggests human beings are hard wired to be part of a group rather than on our own? Hinting at the possiblility that individuals choose to follow a religion simply because their instincts are telling them that if we are part of a large organisation/group, we have more chance of survival as we have more people looking after us than we do on our own. As we know religions can have followings of millions or billions.
All thoughts welcome.

p.s. Typed this up in a bit of a rush, so if you cant make sense of it, please ask further questions.

The problem with the quote is a lot of wise people find religion to be true. Everything else is fine. I would point out that although leaders find religion useful most of them also find it to be true.
 

outhouse

Atheistically
There is a quote which I once read whch says:

'Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful.'
What are your views on this, do you agree?
Do you think religion is a useful tool for the power in the world and if used cleverly, (like King Henry VIII) can aid them in controlling their people?
Do you agree with the pieces of evidence which suggests human beings are hard wired to be part of a group rather than on our own? Hinting at the possiblility that individuals choose to follow a religion simply because their instincts are telling them that if we are part of a large organisation/group, we have more chance of survival as we have more people looking after us than we do on our own. As we know religions can have followings of millions or billions.
All thoughts welcome.

p.s. Typed this up in a bit of a rush, so if you cant make sense of it, please ask further questions.


I buy it.


:beach:
 
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