Do humans have a religious instinct?

[wellwisher]

From a science POV, using the Theory of Evolution, since religions has been an important part of the human condition, since at least the start of civilization, and have played a dominant role for most of that time, grooming culture and people, religion has sort of acted like a version of natural selection; man made selection, for at least 6000 years. So many of the predominate ancient artifacts; building and art, have religious connections. Stonehenge still stand the testament of the religious drive; last thing standing of a time gone by.
.
The question is, is that enough selection time to shift human genetics toward what could be loosely called a religious instinct, since those with the program, would have been more selected; more selective advantages, and therefore their genes would accumulate and concentrate over time. No matter how one worships, there is similar fundamental structuring. Progressives have this faith in novelty and untested ideas. They come from the imagination and are worshiped and defended in an emotional way; transgender is the latest.

It is very possible that although you can take people out of religion; atheism, you may not be able to take religion out of the people, since human brain and DNA is quite conservative of its past. The result is things like Marxism, that may be sold as atheist on the surface, were driven by that inner religious nature, to become a morphed religion; blind obedience to an ideal; religious archetype.

If true, this all comes down to whether the classic religions or the modern morphed religions are more damaging to cultures and people? In modern times, the atheist morphed religions like Marxism and NAZIsm; social darwinism, were the worst.

This observation and application of Evolution, also brings the theory of Evolution in the spot light as to whether 6000-10,000 years is enough time for selective changes on human DNA that underlay human behavioral firmware. If not maybe the theory may need to be updated. If we see a new bird and call that evolution maybe it is too soon for fundamental change but only shallow change.

Liberalism has all the earmarks of a morph religion. The divided nature of that morphed religion; deny classic religion, could explain why they work so hard to separate from what they are unconscious of and cannot admit. The moth flying to the flame each day shows an attraction to what appears like a contradiction, to it own religious preservation; religious war. I like psycho-analyzing people who need help becoming whole.

 

[Andrew Stephen]

Peace to all,

To me the logic of the Will of the Creator becoming to Earth is:
"Let is become to me as Your Will." St. Mary 0 AD
Anno Domini is a Latin phrase that means "in the year of the Lord".
From the Immaculate Conception and the Virgin Birth of The Body of Christ.

To me the instinct is the logic of "becomming whole" as:

The resurrection was in 33 AD and to me the failed state of the first spirit is what becomes united as one in being with the fulfilled spirit of the Divine Kingdom. The failed state of the first spirit creates choice and creates the ability to choose to love, transformed from the Becoming Will, the fulfilled Will of the Creator resurrecting love eternal and glorified and becoming transfigured as one in being with all mankind in His image, in the Year of the Lord, AD.

Peace always,
Stephen

 

[Heyo]

From a science POV, using the Theory of Evolution, since religions has been an important part of the human condition, since at least the start of civilization, and have played a dominant role for most of that time, grooming culture and people, religion has sort of acted like a version of natural selection; man made selection, for at least 6000 years. So many of the predominate ancient artifacts; building and art, have religious connections. Stonehenge still stand the testament of the religious drive; last thing standing of a time gone by.
.
The question is, is that enough selection time to shift human genetics toward what could be loosely called a religious instinct, since those with the program, would have been more selected; more selective advantages, and therefore their genes would accumulate and concentrate over time. No matter how one worships, there is similar fundamental structuring. Progressives have this faith in novelty and untested ideas. They come from the imagination and are worshiped and defended in an emotional way; transgender is the latest.

It is very possible that although you can take people out of religion; atheism, you may not be able to take religion out of the people, since human brain and DNA is quite conservative of its past. The result is things like Marxism, that may be sold as atheist on the surface, were driven by that inner religious nature, to become a morphed religion; blind obedience to an ideal; religious archetype.

If true, this all comes down to whether the classic religions or the modern morphed religions are more damaging to cultures and people? In modern times, the atheist morphed religions like Marxism and NAZIsm; social darwinism, were the worst.

This observation and application of Evolution, also brings the theory of Evolution in the spot light as to whether 6000-10,000 years is enough time for selective changes on human DNA that underlay human behavioral firmware. If not maybe the theory may need to be updated. If we see a new bird and call that evolution maybe it is too soon for fundamental change but only shallow change.

Liberalism has all the earmarks of a morph religion. The divided nature of that morphed religion; deny classic religion, could explain why they work so hard to separate from what they are unconscious of and cannot admit. The moth flying to the flame each day shows an attraction to what appears like a contradiction, to it own religious preservation; religious war. I like psycho-analyzing people who need help becoming whole.

Time again for the Michael Shermer speech:

There you have your "religious instinct". It was useful 200,000 years ago, and it has prevailed until today in many people. (Not all, there are mutants, like I am.)
The thing is that we (mostly) don't need our archaic instincts in a modern society, and our plastic brains allow us to "unlearn" them, or, at least, control them. Self-control is one of the signs of being a modern human, replacing instinct with rationality.
But it takes more than a few millennia to breed out anything of a human population (unless in a restricted gene pool). With our vast pool, we'll always regress to the mean. Superstition will be with us for a long time.

 

[Andrew Stephen]

Peace to all,

To me the being created and transforming becoming immortality and in-corruption and becoming again in glorification and transfiguration is like the Creation, "First Coming" and "Second Coming" pattern of creation. Through the Trinity of the re-imaging Body we become as His image in fulfilled faith and morality.

To me we can understand the logic of the "Transfiguration" to become into the reimaging of creation of the "Baptized Heaven and Earth" through "The Will." Even at one time the entire planet was underwater at least 40 feet. The 4th dispensation, Promise of Life eternal through the Faith of Abraham was sworn by God's own name to Abraham, and Isaac and He fulfills Our Will through "The Will" 2000 years later by His Son.

The seven dispensations are:

• Innocence: The first dispensation, before the Fall
• Conscience: The second dispensation
• Human government: The third dispensation
• Promise: The fourth dispensation
• Law: The fifth dispensation
• Grace: The current dispensation, established by Christ
• Kingdom: The seventh dispensation

True, to me the pattern is the logic that does not fail. Choice is in the being created rational or irrational. Choice gives the being the opportunity? to fail? Mortality of the failed flesh of the Body does not give immortality of the Holy Spirit in the Body to live forever as infallible on Earth. To me the logic of the Kingdom of The Divine Will of the Creator is He promises a more abundant life in the Divine "Holy" Spirit of the being of the Flesh and eternal life of the Body in Heaven. Infallibility is what allowed Christ to live forever on earth without Baptism. In Baptism Christ lost His immortal and incorruptible being to be able to die of the flesh and descend with flesh to resurrect life eternal to the Body as glorified and transfigured. To me what in logic that is removed is in the "gene pool" of the new "DNA" of creation and re-imaged order and is in the pattern, the "second coming" image we become, as the image of the Creator as infallible certainty with the chance of the pattern of infallibility as "choice with a chance of failure removed." To me what is removed from the old being is in the re-imiaging from the spirit through tthe flesh for the soul of the new being and is in the coming of one in being as united. And through all of the wondrous mysteries of The Faith we become into the pattern of logic that manifests all mankind as united as one in being together with The Father and The Son through the Power of the fulfilled rational instincts of self-control in the pattern of unfailing eternity with no choice of failure in infallible certainty manifesting from the Will that will never have the chance again to defile, becoming The Fulfilled Faith and Morality of The Kingdom of The Divine Will of The Creator, God, The Father.

To me we open the Church for all to share, as one in being.

To me the video verifies the Will of the Creator, thanks Heyo, for sharing.

Peace always,
Stephen Andrew

 

[HonestJoe]

Humans only have a "religious instinct" in the same way we have "horror film instinct" or "rollercoaster instinct". There are fundamental evolved characteristics that are (or were) beneficial to our survival that happen to come together to work in entirely different ways. There is obviously no (major) survival benefit to enjoying horror films or rollercoasters, but there are for the underlying physical and psychological effects that happen to combine to create that enjoyment (though, significantly, not for everyone).

Religion is somewhat similar. For a start, that is a very wide term covering a vast range of different beliefs, ideas, behaviours and systems (much wider than most discussions on the topic really take account of). Even the scope of the Abrahamic-centric perception of religion though, there is much diversity.

Some of the underlying factors that have led to the development of religion will be things. We have an instinct, a need even, to understand things, especially potentially dangerous things, which for early humans, was pretty much everything. We have pack/tribal/family instincts, which ironically become more complex and difficult as species become more intelligent. We are (and especially, were) reliant on largely uncontrollable natural forces like weather, wild animals, natural disasters and the like, and don't want the sense of helplessness in the face of them.

Those kind of characteristics have fed the development of the precursors to formal religion and on to the different religions themselves. Those characteristics, alone or with others, have also fed a whole load of different aspects of humanity though, some inevitably interacting with religions and some not. I think the key point I'd want to make clear is that religion is just one of the many complex human behaviours that have evolved as we have gained intelligence. There is nothing special or unique about it (including the element of so many believers wanting it to be).

 

[Andrew Stephen]

Peace to all,

So true, Joe.

"(including the element of so many believers wanting it to be)."

The logic seems to follow, Created becoming transformed and becoming again, gloriously transfigured in the image.

To me, the Religious Instincts come from the Faith of Abraham, the Father of Faith.

I am only looking at the logic, for understanding, perhaps near to the fundamental, but logically speaking only.

To me logically, Choice created mortal love.
And of course we all know the logic of eternal life is not promised on earth.
To me the logic is that is it the will of man or The Will of The Creator. The state of The Will remains to become the manifestion from the last chosen state.
To me in logic, Through the Faith of Abraham and the Father of Faith, He fulfills mortal love becoming immortal and incorruptible and becoming again glorified and transfigured eternal love.

Peace always,
Stephen Andrew

 

[wellwisher]

Time again for the Michael Shermer speech:

There you have your "religious instinct". It was useful 200,000 years ago, and it has prevailed until today in many people. (Not all, there are mutants, like I am.)
The thing is that we (mostly) don't need our archaic instincts in a modern society, and our plastic brains allow us to "unlearn" them, or, at least, control them. Self-control is one of the signs of being a modern human, replacing instinct with rationality.
But it takes more than a few millennia to breed out anything of a human population (unless in a restricted gene pool). With our vast pool, we'll always regress to the mean. Superstition will be with us for a long time.

If you look at any major religion, from the earliest to now, there is always lots of art, which comes from creative inspirations associated with that religion. This goes beyond rationalizing, to inducing the internal processes that drive the creative process. There is a difference between analyzing a work of ancient world art and creating one. Michael Shermer has the POV of the observer, analyzer, critic, but not the creator. He is separated from the best part.

When Michelangelo was asked about his master piece, the Pieta, said he saw the final statue trapped in the stone and all he did was let it out. The modern analogy would be something like organic AI that humans have, that can process reality and bring about new combinations; brain child. The connection between religion, art and even elaborate ancient construction that can be aligned with the compass or stars, show a connection to this higher human potential and a way to tap into it. Massive construction projects like the tomb of Pharaohs on their journey to the afterlife can exceed what is expect of just the ego with primitive tools. Faith is belief in things not seen, which is how all innovation begins. The charisma of faith has other applications. Talking about the innovation after the fact does not need the extra creative boost. Why would you want to get rid of the creative side? One answer is to create an alternate secular religion, to make money; tithes, via the prestige of celebrity.

What my thesis is, is we all have that religious instinct, but many have left the classic religions, but are still applying the same instinct to secular life, via alternate forms of religion and worship that may not involve deities. Buddhism does not involve deities yet it still uses the creative brain in an attempt to develop innate human potential. Celebrity worship comes from the same place. The definition of religion needs to be widened and not be narrow to a creed but what is connected to the underlying instinct that drives all the many expressions from classic to secular.

We have two centers of consciousness; inner self and ego. The inner self is much older. This is what all animals have which define their behavioral patterns and propensities of that species. In the case of humans, it defines our human nature and is as old as the first generic human. The ego is much newer and consolidated with the rise of civilization. Only humans have the ego. Adam and Eve symbolize the first humans with the ego. This is how the dating between Genesis and Science match. The Religious instinct from 200,000 year ago was all inner self; unconscious impulse that is processed at an unconscious level like an instinctive reaction/action. It is not by will or choice like the ego. When the ego appears this quantum multiples.

With the rise of civilization, the ego consolidated and became involved in this process. The ego with will and choice, can become unique such that the same inner self instinct of all humans could now have many expressions. The ego made it possible for these expressions to get more advanced and integrated over a wider population; networking, with this networking reinforcing that instinct and even causing it to advance with time; selection and selective advantages. It is the same for all, at the most fundamental level, but it is more advanced today, since it keeps on evolving. It is like when Microsoft or Apple release a new OS, and then add updates, until it needs to be replaced with a new OS. Ancient Greece went from the Titans to the Olympians.

The religious instinct is not still stuck at DOS and floppy disks; basics, although it evolved from that humble beginning and still has this core. We do not see the spirits of the forest or in our dreams, like the earlier DOS versions of the OS. This is more rare today. This is why many do not recognize the religious instinct in politics. Imagine if separation of church and state, got rid of all the political religions addenda; you cannot use fake news since this is not real but a type of religious mythology for one side of the isle. It is not real or rational. Anything beyond reasoning your beliefs adds imaginary imagery ,designed to manipulate and induce a dream state in the audience. This is less clear cut today, like the religions of old who use ancient command lines; prayers, to expand the mind for faith in what can be.

 

[Bear Wild]

From a science POV, using the Theory of Evolution, since religions has been an important part of the human condition, since at least the start of civilization, and have played a dominant role for most of that time, grooming culture and people, religion has sort of acted like a version of natural selection; man made selection, for at least 6000 years. So many of the predominate ancient artifacts; building and art, have religious connections. Stonehenge still stand the testament of the religious drive; last thing standing of a time gone by.
.
The question is, is that enough selection time to shift human genetics toward what could be loosely called a religious instinct, since those with the program, would have been more selected; more selective advantages, and therefore their genes would accumulate and concentrate over time. No matter how one worships, there is similar fundamental structuring. Progressives have this faith in novelty and untested ideas. They come from the imagination and are worshiped and defended in an emotional way; transgender is the latest.

It is very possible that although you can take people out of religion; atheism, you may not be able to take religion out of the people, since human brain and DNA is quite conservative of its past. The result is things like Marxism, that may be sold as atheist on the surface, were driven by that inner religious nature, to become a morphed religion; blind obedience to an ideal; religious archetype.

If true, this all comes down to whether the classic religions or the modern morphed religions are more damaging to cultures and people? In modern times, the atheist morphed religions like Marxism and NAZIsm; social darwinism, were the worst.

This observation and application of Evolution, also brings the theory of Evolution in the spot light as to whether 6000-10,000 years is enough time for selective changes on human DNA that underlay human behavioral firmware. If not maybe the theory may need to be updated. If we see a new bird and call that evolution maybe it is too soon for fundamental change but only shallow change.

Liberalism has all the earmarks of a morph religion. The divided nature of that morphed religion; deny classic religion, could explain why they work so hard to separate from what they are unconscious of and cannot admit. The moth flying to the flame each day shows an attraction to what appears like a contradiction, to it own religious preservation; religious war. I like psycho-analyzing people who need help becoming whole.

Can you clarify what exactly you mean by a religious instinct. What are the behaviors you are referring to in the word religious. It is difficult to answer to this question without this clarification. Thanks

 

[Andrew Stephen]

Peace to all,

Thanks, and to me in logic what is fulfilled today is from what is created The Word, in logic to me we become manifested by the state of the power of the Will of the Spirit Choice as "The Gift" that unites all mankind as one in being together with The Father and The Son as glorified and transfigured into His image, fulfilled eternal love from created Adam and Eve through the New Eve. This seems to be the logic I see, thanks for reading.

Peace always,
Stephen Andrew

 

[Bear Wild]

Only humans have the ego.

How do you know this???

 

[wellwisher]

Can you clarify what exactly you mean by a religious instinct. What are the behaviors you are referring to in the word religious. It is difficult to answer to this question without this clarification. Thanks

One way to help answer this is to look up some of the definitions of religion;

1) The belief in and worship of a superhuman power or powers, especially a God or gods.
2) A particular system of faith and worship.
3) A pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance.
"consumerism or materialism is the new religion"

The religious instinct would be that generic unconscious motivation behind all these things. It gives the pursuit of something a feeling of importance, making it feels larger than oneself; save the planet. Through natural selection or man made selection those who are so driven and give it their all, will have selective advantages at each time in history, and like in the theory of evolution, this selects similar people and reinforces this type of behavior.

The world has lots of classic style religions. There are many way to express this. The religious instinct is more like generic motivation factors. However, the same basic motivation factors can drive people to other pursuits beyond classic religion such as Communism, that tried to compete with the classic religions with religious wars. It is the same underlying factors but with a new mask for selling and motivating people. An important part is faith in what you believe, since the future is not set, so one needs hope and a vision of an ideal future, to stay motived; heaven or paradise on earth. Things that last the longest appear to be that which best satisfies this religious instinct; higher human potential. This might be though technology, meditation and prayer, etc. Buddhist monk can over clock the human body.

If you have watched any of the selling of Harris for President, over the past two weeks, by the media, she has not even told us what she believes in, yet the base is so motivated without even knowing why. The underlying supreme importance may feel like the fate of the world is at stake. This religious instinct gives it that feeling of importance, even if this is only in their heads. The flock has not yet settled down to reason to make are this is in touch with reality, but it is still in the clouds of blue sky thinking/feeling. The coronation may have played a role, since it is similar to voting for a new pope, which is only done by those at the top of the food chain, with the most selective advantages; visionaries.

In modern times we try to separate the meaning of religion to just the belief in deities. However, the thesis of this topic is these types of religions have played an important role since early civilization and should have had an enough time through selection processes, to engrain something on all humans. You take people out of the classic religions, but the religious factors remain and will find new outlet.

Religious freedom on which America was founded appears to have understood that the religion instinct does not always homogenize but rather has many expressions and forcing one way on everyone may not be optimized for all. According to this logic, Atheism also runs on religious instinct, since it cannot just live and let live, but seeks to be the only religion of supreme importance; religious wars.

 

[LuisDantas]

Religious freedom on which America was founded appears to have understood that the religion instinct does not always homogenize but rather has many expressions and forcing one way on everyone may not be optimized for all. According to this logic, Atheism also runs on religious instinct, since it cannot just live and let live, but seeks to be the only religion of supreme importance; religious wars.

Uh... what?

What are you calling Atheism here?

Did you even mean to use that word here?

Are you somehow blaming atheim for religious wars?

I feel like I missed all the exciting parts. Bummer.

 

[Bear Wild]

1) The belief in and worship of a superhuman power or powers, especially a God or gods.
2) A particular system of faith and worship.
3) A pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance.
"consumerism or materialism is the new religion"

The religious instinct would be that generic unconscious motivation behind all these things. It gives the pursuit of something a feeling of importance, making it feels larger than oneself; save the planet. Through natural selection or man made selection those who are so driven and give it their all, will have selective advantages at each time in history, and like in the theory of evolution, this selects similar people and reinforces this type of behavior.

Here is your problem with what you present. More recent anthropological studies of indigenous societies who have been least converted to the major religions do show a worship of superhuman power or specific gods but a need to come into relationship with the land, spirits, and other numinous beings. Each may have ways of doing this that is shared but no clear defined system of faith and worship. Thus creating an appropriate relationship to the immanent beings all around and a relationship to the beings outside of the tribe is what is important and not a supernatural or superhuman power. The powers they deal with are all natural. The religion you are alluding to is a very modern perception of religion and has become more rationalized than genetically determined. The genetics has provided humans like other animals however to be able to create a relationship to the world we live in and that relationship is their religion.

 

[marriedmanoffaith]

From a science POV, using the Theory of Evolution, since religions has been an important part of the human condition, since at least the start of civilization, and have played a dominant role for most of that time, grooming culture and people, religion has sort of acted like a version of natural selection; man made selection, for at least 6000 years. So many of the predominate ancient artifacts; building and art, have religious connections. Stonehenge still stand the testament of the religious drive; last thing standing of a time gone by.
.
The question is, is that enough selection time to shift human genetics toward what could be loosely called a religious instinct, since those with the program, would have been more selected; more selective advantages, and therefore their genes would accumulate and concentrate over time. No matter how one worships, there is similar fundamental structuring. Progressives have this faith in novelty and untested ideas. They come from the imagination and are worshiped and defended in an emotional way; transgender is the latest.

It is very possible that although you can take people out of religion; atheism, you may not be able to take religion out of the people, since human brain and DNA is quite conservative of its past. The result is things like Marxism, that may be sold as atheist on the surface, were driven by that inner religious nature, to become a morphed religion; blind obedience to an ideal; religious archetype.

If true, this all comes down to whether the classic religions or the modern morphed religions are more damaging to cultures and people? In modern times, the atheist morphed religions like Marxism and NAZIsm; social darwinism, were the worst.

This observation and application of Evolution, also brings the theory of Evolution in the spot light as to whether 6000-10,000 years is enough time for selective changes on human DNA that underlay human behavioral firmware. If not maybe the theory may need to be updated. If we see a new bird and call that evolution maybe it is too soon for fundamental change but only shallow change.

Liberalism has all the earmarks of a morph religion. The divided nature of that morphed religion; deny classic religion, could explain why they work so hard to separate from what they are unconscious of and cannot admit. The moth flying to the flame each day shows an attraction to what appears like a contradiction, to it own religious preservation; religious war. I like psycho-analyzing people who need help becoming whole.

The human journey of faith and understanding is long and winding, filled with both light and shadow. Yet we must never lose sight of our shared humanity and the divine spark within each of us.

While science offers valuable insights into our origins and nature, we must remember that faith and reason are not opposed, but complementary paths to truth. Our religious impulse, whether expressed through traditional faiths or modern ideologies, speaks to our deep longing for meaning and transcendence.

Rather than judge or divide, let us seek to understand one another with compassion. All people of goodwill, regardless of belief, can work together to build a more just and fraternal world. May we be guided by love, not fear; by dialogue, not dogmatism.

The challenges of our time call us to renewal - of our hearts, our societies, and our relationship with Creation.

 

[wellwisher]

Uh... what?

What are you calling Atheism here?

Did you even mean to use that word here?

Are you somehow blaming atheim for religious wars?

I feel like I missed all the exciting parts. Bummer.

That last two sentence paragraph, should have been two paragraphs. The first sentence was about the Founding Fathers not picking any one religion, but leaving it to the individual to bring meaning to their life with their pursuit of faith.

The second sentence was sort of a summary and applied to the religious instinct in general. Atheism was another application of the religious instinct, seeking to give itself supreme importance, with it constantly feuding with classic religion.

In this forum, we do not have a bloody war, but there is a constant push by atheist to discredit the classic versions of religious instinct, especially Christianity; mirror religions. Communism, was sort of a fantasy of heaven on earth; ideal version, with a godless version of Christianity with a Pope, that was cruel toward classic religion, who would not bow and serve. Atheism in the West, in general, does not do that far but still like to bicker; heaven on earth via reason, science and materialism but no gods.

 

[LuisDantas]

This is a grave misunderstanding of Atheism that you are showing, @wellwisher

I don't think those atheists even exist.

 

[Brickjectivity]

From a science POV, using the Theory of Evolution, since religions has been an important part of the human condition, since at least the start of civilization, and have played a dominant role for most of that time, grooming culture and people, religion has sort of acted like a version of natural selection; man made selection, for at least 6000 years. So many of the predominate ancient artifacts; building and art, have religious connections. Stonehenge still stand the testament of the religious drive; last thing standing of a time gone by.

Maybe. When one looks back that far, it requires pasting our own experiences in to try and enliven the archeological relics that we have found. Its problematic. Take for example the numerous statues found of a naked, pregnant fat lady. These are called 'Venus Figurines', but are they definitely religious symbols? Its just assumed by many. We presume it because we are religious, but maybe they are something else.

The problem is we don't actually know what the Venus Figurines are for. We try to understand based upon our own experiences that they may have been religious items, but we can't then turn it around and claim that they are evidence people have always been religious. Maybe they are weights to hold tops on soup pots. Maybe they are fishing lures. Maybe they are threats sent to inform unfortunate people who have not paid their rent?

Like with the figurines, we cannot project religion onto the past and then use that as an assurance that the past was religious. Recorded History is religious. All recorded History shows religion. Therefore we can safely say that religion has been around for several thousand years. Thirty thousand years ago maybe not, but we can probably assume it based upon what we are like, today. It is an interpolation or assumption though.

 

[bobhikes]

From a science POV, using the Theory of Evolution, since religions has been an important part of the human condition, since at least the start of civilization, and have played a dominant role for most of that time, grooming culture and people, religion has sort of acted like a version of natural selection; man made selection, for at least 6000 years. So many of the predominate ancient artifacts; building and art, have religious connections. Stonehenge still stand the testament of the religious drive; last thing standing of a time gone by.
.
The question is, is that enough selection time to shift human genetics toward what could be loosely called a religious instinct, since those with the program, would have been more selected; more selective advantages, and therefore their genes would accumulate and concentrate over time. No matter how one worships, there is similar fundamental structuring. Progressives have this faith in novelty and untested ideas. They come from the imagination and are worshiped and defended in an emotional way; transgender is the latest.

It is very possible that although you can take people out of religion; atheism, you may not be able to take religion out of the people, since human brain and DNA is quite conservative of its past. The result is things like Marxism, that may be sold as atheist on the surface, were driven by that inner religious nature, to become a morphed religion; blind obedience to an ideal; religious archetype.

If true, this all comes down to whether the classic religions or the modern morphed religions are more damaging to cultures and people? In modern times, the atheist morphed religions like Marxism and NAZIsm; social darwinism, were the worst.

This observation and application of Evolution, also brings the theory of Evolution in the spot light as to whether 6000-10,000 years is enough time for selective changes on human DNA that underlay human behavioral firmware. If not maybe the theory may need to be updated. If we see a new bird and call that evolution maybe it is too soon for fundamental change but only shallow change.

Liberalism has all the earmarks of a morph religion. The divided nature of that morphed religion; deny classic religion, could explain why they work so hard to separate from what they are unconscious of and cannot admit. The moth flying to the flame each day shows an attraction to what appears like a contradiction, to it own religious preservation; religious war. I like psycho-analyzing people who need help becoming whole.

Humans have a supernatural need. Religion is a type of power governance taking advantage of that need.

 

[wellwisher]

Here is your problem with what you present. More recent anthropological studies of indigenous societies who have been least converted to the major religions do show a worship of superhuman power or specific gods but a need to come into relationship with the land, spirits, and other numinous beings. Each may have ways of doing this that is shared but no clear defined system of faith and worship. Thus creating an appropriate relationship to the immanent beings all around and a relationship to the beings outside of the tribe is what is important and not a supernatural or superhuman power. The powers they deal with are all natural. The religion you are alluding to is a very modern perception of religion and has become more rationalized than genetically determined. The genetics has provided humans like other animals however to be able to create a relationship to the world we live in and that relationship is their religion.

The genetic explanation is not the full story since how does DNA allow for consciousness? Consciousness is why this all makes any sense. A robot would not have any need for a religious instinct. Computers do not have any. Even AI does not do this.

The religious instinct is more like a software effect than a hardware effect. The DNA is more about the hardware. To make that religious instinct software connection, the DNA needs to be put in its correct place in the hierarchy. The DNA is not at the top of the food chain. The DNA is more like the hard drive of the cell or body. It has all the data needed to make all the protein. It is the protein have all the muscle needed to turn than data into a processor for the DNA data. Just providing all the raw protein is only half the story.

As soon as a protein is transcribed, the water, through the need to lower the surface tension, begins fold and pack the protein into a minimal potential state. This folding and packing the protein give it the value needed for life. The DNA provides raw material, which is not yet bioactive. The water helps to process these into useful shapes, as well as assign protein their proper position in the protein grid; equilibrium. This is due to a water and oil effect, where water and oil will want to separate. The majority component, which in the case of life is water, needs to optimizes its hydrogen bonding, with that optimizing the oil; organic and proteins, to the water. The packed protein has a water friendly surface.

During cell cycles, when the DNA is duplicated and packed into condensed chromosomes, the DNA is taken off line. The protein grid does all the processing, to complete the cell cycle and then puts the DNA back online, via two daughter cells. If we replaced the water with any other solvent, nothing will work, since the other solvent will process differently. Even the DNA does not work in any other solvent. It is tuned to water. Life in alcohol would need a totally different genetic hard drive.

One of the conceptual weak spots of the first replicator theory that is the foundation of evolution, is how does a hard drive make a computer to run the hard drive? Cell cycles only work because of the support the protein grid is able to put the DNA on and off line. When it goes back online there is protein based processor waiting to use the DNA, in a very specific way; multicellular differentiation.

That aside. If look at the brain, it is genetic raw material, that has been processed by the water, to assume all the protein shapes and positions needed for neurons. We also need to add to this our sensory systems. The action of these can impact the protein shapes to form memory. Now the memory become an altered equilibrium shape beyond just water and DNA. If we had no sensory systems a DNA-protein-water steady state would be in effect. But once you add sensory systems and even consciousness that can think, the grid in altered beyond that expected of just DNA-protein-water. The religious instinct and higher human potential appears to be connected to this "extra" that goes beyond the DNA hard drive. This could explain life after death; spirits of ancestor, as that extra feeling of transcendence connect to the "extra" that is not exactly traced to the DNA.

Like you were saying about the natural and/or converts to main stream religion, their isolation would have evolved their software "extra" differently. If they were to convert, it would be more intellectual while their religious instinct would still be at a more natural stage; longer term effect. In the Catholic religion, which is all over the world, many cultures will retain their older way and form a hybrid. This also raises the question as whether this "extra", has a feedback effect on the DNA. By being beyond the DNA, can it write to the hard drive, so the extra can evolve and a become platform for a jump in "extra". Education helps to add extra.

 

[Jimmy]

All wisdom flows from God so yes humanity is spiritual by nature imo.