There is more to religion than "God" or even "gods".
On the other hand I think we will probably always need, and produce, myths and rituals.
without God what would humanity do?
by BlackSwan of Memphis 84 Replies latest jw friends
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Satanus
Elderwho
Does moral behavior evovle?
It does. A few days ago, read a study about toddlers. It concluded that they naturally volunteered to help out somebody. It would indicated that helpfullness is hardwired into humans (toddlers). It is easy for morals to evolve from a base such as that. As well, empathy may be hardwired. Further, the human desire for an ordered society brings civil law into existence. These laws are loosely equated in the human mind to morals/moral standards.
S
Ps, i didn't save the text of that study, will try to find it, again.
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Satanus
Here it is:
Psychology researcher Felix Warneken found that toddlers are eager to help, and fairly sophisticated in understanding when it is needed.
Warneken performed a series of ordinary tasks in front of toddlers, such as hanging towels with clothespins or stacking books. Sometimes he had problems with the tasks. Sometimes he deliberately messed up. His study included 24 toddlers.
Amazingly, each time Warneken dropped his clothespins or knocked over his books, each of the 24 toddlers tried to help him within seconds - but only if he appeared to need their help.
If Warneken deliberately pulled a book off the stack or threw a pin to the floor, the toddlers didn`t react.
But if Warneken`s action appeared to be an accident, the toddlers would quickly crawl over, grab the object, push up to their feet and hand back the object.
Warneken never asked for the help and didn`t say `thank you.` So the youngsters were not responding to praise.
S
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SickofLies
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8797&feedId=online-news_rss20
The researchers studied what three captive-raised young chimps would do when a familiar human caretaker dropped an object out of her reach.
All three chimps were more likely to pick up the object and hand it to the caretaker when she reached for the object than when she merely looked at the object. Click here to see a video of a helpful chimp in action. This suggests that the chimps understood the human's goal and tried to help, says Warneken – even though they received no reward or praise.
Human infants also helped in this way (click here to see a toddler help) and performed other, more complex helping tasks. They would open a cabinet door, for example, to help an adult whose hands were full, while a chimp would not. "This suggests that a tiny bit of helping behaviour is already present in chimpanzees, but they're not as flexible as human infants are," says Warneken.
Such altruistic helping behaviour is common in humans, but had never been documented in other animals before. Researchers now need to understand how often, and under what conditions, it occurs, says Joan Silk, an evolutionary anthropologist at the University of California at Los Angeles, US. In earlier studies, Silk found that chimps are as likely to choose a food reward for themselves alone as for themselves and a companion.
Indeed, the world would be a better place without any religion.
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ellderwho
It would indicated that helpfullness is hardwired into humans (toddlers).
If this is hardwired why do not all humans do this naturally?
It is easy for morals to evolve from a base such as that. As well, empathy may be hardwired.
I believe the same applies here.
Further, the human desire for an ordered society brings civil law into existence. ; These laws are loosely equated in the human mind ;to morals/moral standards.
I see you arguement, but if there is no consequence, or if we really dont have to answer to anything or anyone for moral misbehavior. I mean so what if I sleep with your wife, who do I have to answer to?
An "ordered society" is a bit of a loose term. History has not revealed civil order by a long shot.
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MsMcDucket
Most people would believe in something. Whether it be man, fairies, mystic stuff, what have ya. Remember, it's the industrialized nations that believe in the God of the Hebrew bible. The other nations believe in all kinds of stuff.
This is an interesting pro-christian web page (It considers Jehovah's Witnesses to be pagan.): http://www.creatingfutures.net/otherreligions.html
JEHOVAH WITNESSES
Jehovah Witnesses believe they are the only true Christians. They systematically proselytize people who attend Christian churches, categorizing Christendom as "false religion," "the Harlot," and "Babylon the Great." They deny the deity of Jesus Christ. They say Jesus is "a God", not equal to Jehovah God. Scripture clearly presents Jesus as fully God, not "a God". Jehovah Witnesses have a strong emphasis on salvation by works instead of by faith alone. They believe Jesus returned to earth in 1914.
In order to defend their doctrinal beliefs, they have created their own bible called New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. Translated by a committee of five, none of whom were trained in Hebrew and Greek, it changes the meaning of the Greek and Hebrew texts in order to support spurious Jehovah's Witness doctrines. They also state that you must read the literature published by the Watchtower society in order to understand the bible.
They go on and on about how different christian religions are wrong and which one is right...just like the witnesses...
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BlackSwan of Memphis
Those negative traits are a natural phase after our evolutionary ascendency from apes (monkeys have a lot of fears). What i am saying is, no fears = no belief in god. If humanity was absent of fear, security and happiness could well be much more common.
Yeah but isn’t fear necessary for survival? Maybe fear of the unknown has helped people survive. Even if some of that fear is based on myth.
Its a very intricate invention, with lots of loose ends.No?
Loose ends? If God is all powerful etc etc. Doesn’t that explain it all?
There is more to religion than "God" or even "gods".
On the other hand I think we will probably always need, and produce, myths and rituals.
I agree with you on this about religion. I think we need (as a whole) myths and rituals.
I feel it defines a law of morality. I think? Or else why care what happens to whomever. Does moral behavior evovle?
Why not? Hm, in our own lives we grown and change. Is it possible that morality did evolve from centuries, millenia of trial and error?
(thanks for the response, sorry it took me so long, putting kids to bed)
peace
meagan
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BlackSwan of Memphis
I see you arguement, but if there is no consequence, or if we really dont have to answer to anything or anyone for moral misbehavior. I mean so what if I sleep with your wife, who do I have to answer to?
Yourself. Your friend that beats the s*** outta ya. J
Good point MsD. People would believe in something. Like nark said, a myth or something.
Need to read up Nietchske. (sp?) Have a link for it.
I have been thinking the last few days how God fills a void in our lives. Hate to say this, but, serves a purpose.
meagan
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ellderwho
Yourself. Your friend that beats the s*** outta ya. J
Me thinks ya missed the point.
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BlackSwan of Memphis
Yourself. Your friend that beats the s*** outta ya. J
Me thinks ya missed the point.No, no. I think you have a good point. I have thought of this often myself.
Hey, for me to even be sitting here considering that there is nothing divine in the Universe... that's a scary step.
To think we might have created God as (I believe) Satanus said, is well, different to say the least.
I guess what I was meaning to say when I wrote the above:
What if we just answered to ourselves? Would that be enough to keep us from doing stupid, hurtful things?
I really like this thread, it gave me a lot to think about last night.
meagan