Could the invention of religion have been a mistake?

Mad Sweeney

Is it possible (and is there any evidence?) that religion was invented by mistake? That perhaps someone wanting to describe the reasons for things not understood used metaphors that the ignorant took literally? And subsequently, others seeing how easy it was to exploit those ignorant masses, invented organized religion as a means of control and power?

I'm just trying to think of how the first person to actually believe in gods or God came to do so. It had to be some sort of mistake, right? Or was it planned?

Thoughts?

Markfromcali

Well we know even within the realm of Christianity, for example some take the ideas more literally than others. Remember too the collective consciousness of people were different too, the belief in gods tends to follow a kind of anthropomorphic projection right? God is like a person with the usual personality traits. I'm sure anthropologists have found groups who independently developed ideas of deities in different parts of the world. Point is people do tend to assume the ultimate reality takes the form of their personal experience in some way, rather than something other than what they already know.

And of course, you don't need to be an innovator to capitalize on an existing idea.

Mad Sweeney

Those anthropological findings are exactly what I'm looking for and even further back than that, if possible. Someone had to be the first one to believe in God or gods. What moved him/her to do so? An storytelling artist? A con man? A mistake like in "The Invention of Lying"?

Markfromcali

Well what I'm saying is it does not necessarily have to be one guy, even if you could track down the first one if they developed the belief independently then it's not just a matter of his psychology and him influencing others. After all, they couldn't readily spread ideas far and wide like we can today.

What I find is it is just as interesting to look at the development of human consciousness on a collective level as it is on an individual level. Obviously there is a lot of research involved but some who have done the work have interesting models as far as the different phases, and it seems to relate to our individual development as well.

agonus

Read Chris Knowles' take on Richard Dawkins' discussion of the Cargo Cult phenomenon. Fascinating stuff.

tec

Or it could be in us to seek out what we know in our hearts is there. (Sorry, but that should be added among your list of possibilities)

Tammy

Markfromcali

Actually the seeking would not be in conflict with a developmental view, but why seek without if it's something in your heart? It's actually not a rhetorical question. Religious beliefs would be something that people came up with to describe what they believe, that is not seeking anything but rather an expression or description. Coming up with a religion and following a religion are completely opposite movements.

SweetBabyCheezits

Glad you asked. Here's actual video of the origin of religion....

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVbnciQYMiM

THE GLADIATOR

Religion is more a part of mankind's development than an invention. It has many similarities to language and dialects. Both are written and spoken. Different countries have developed their language and religion according to need.

Both religion and language have brought benefits and problems depending on how they have been used. Animals have no written language or religion and have managed to exist longer than humans. I don't see either as a mistake any more than I see humans themselves as a mistake.

What's my point? I don't have one - I am just rambling...

agonus

Tec, you're absolutely right... the problem is determining where the overlap occurs... which IMHO is pretty well nigh impossible at this juncture in our species' adolescence... but I do think there are more than a few tantalizing clues.

;)

Could the invention of religion have been a mistake?

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