Religions cause pandemics

[Rokcet Scientist]

I.o.w.: religions are genocidal per definition!

Whether or not they believe in God, evolutionary biologists may need to pay closer mind to religion. That's because religious beliefs can shape key behaviors in ways that evolutionary theory would not predict, particularly when it comes to dealing with disease. According to a new study, some of today's major religions emerged at the same time as widespread infectious diseases, and the two may have helped shape one another. The same dynamics may be reflected today in how people in Malawi deal with the AIDS epidemic.

[R-e-n-n-a-t]

Or we invented new religions to be able to emotionally handle relatives dying in times of disease and suffering. Doesn't that sound a little more likely??

[Anymouse]

Or we invented new religions to be able to emotionally handle relatives dying in times of disease and suffering. Doesn't that sound a little more likely??

That seems more likely as well. If you've never heard of germs or infection or whatnot, and your old religions were not serving or saving you, pitching the old and coming up with something new might have been the obvious choice.

Also, I recall reading somewhere that the Black Plague was implicated somewhat in the Protestant Reformation, though I don't know about the veracity of that.

[Anomalocaris]

I.o.w.: religions are genocidal per definition!

Whether or not they believe in God, evolutionary biologists may need to pay closer mind to religion. That's because religious beliefs can shape key behaviors in ways that evolutionary theory would not predict, particularly when it comes to dealing with disease. According to a new study, some of today's major religions emerged at the same time as widespread infectious diseases, and the two may have helped shape one another. The same dynamics may be reflected today in how people in Malawi deal with the AIDS epidemic.

Religions like Catholicism encourages those gullible enough and emotionally needy enough to embrace the cult of Jesus to out breed those who possess both the foresight to anticipate the consequences of overpopulation, and the decency to do their own share to reduce overpopulation.

So if the gene pool of humanity were to shift in the direction of increased inclination towards gullibility, you probably have doctrines like catholicism to thank.

[The Grand Nudger]

Hey hey now, lets not start talking population control. Many hands make light work.

[Skepsis]

Many hands make light work.

Many hands make many mouths. Many mouths typically attached to many stomachs that need filling. I agree with you though, we can't go talking population control, thats sick. I think we need another renaissance to escape the leftovers of the dark ages like severe dogmas, valuing stupidity, and anti social ideology.

[BethK]

I.o.w.: religions are genocidal per definition!

Whether or not they believe in God, evolutionary biologists may need to pay closer mind to religion. That's because religious beliefs can shape key behaviors in ways that evolutionary theory would not predict, particularly when it comes to dealing with disease. According to a new study, some of today's major religions emerged at the same time as widespread infectious diseases, and the two may have helped shape one another. The same dynamics may be reflected today in how people in Malawi deal with the AIDS epidemic.

Interesting idea.

It's obvious that a major purpose of religion is to explain death, and to comfort the bereaved by telling them such things as their loved ones are in a better place, or we'll see them again, that they are watching over us, and whatnot.

One purpose of prayer is to somehow convince God that it's not your loved ones' time - that someone should be spared death from whatever disease, injury, or other condition just because you love them - never mind all of the other people who die, including 500,000 all at once from an earthquake or tsunami which an all powerful God could certainly prevent. If it works, obviously you are praying "right" and to "the right God", and if it doesn't, you're not praying in the correct manner, or to the right God, or using the right words or ritual. If several people in a row use the same ancient language words, and wear the right colored robes, and use the right candles and incense, "of course" God likes that and will listen. If someone else sacrifices some animal or a human and something changes according to their wishes, obviously that is "the right way" according to what becomes their religion.

Of course, the whole thing is based on the logical fallacy of "post hoc ergo propter hoc" (After this therefore because of this).

Although I think that it's bad luck to be superstitious, throwing salt over your shoulder seems a lot simpler and less frightening than or

[Rokcet Scientist]

Or we invented new religions to be able to emotionally handle relatives dying in times of disease and suffering. Doesn't that sound a little more likely??

No.
It's not either/or. It is all of the above.
This pandemic angle is just one aspect that until recently was completely overlooked in analyses. But considering its humongous impact it is an angle that demands a lot of attention if we know what's good for us, homo sapiens sapiens.

Disregarding and ridiculing this angle is criminal and anti-social.

---

Many hands make light work.

Many hands make many mouths. Many mouths typically attached to many stomachs that need filling. I agree with you though, we can't go talking population control, thats sick. I think we need another renaissance to escape the leftovers of the dark ages like severe dogmas, valuing stupidity, and anti social ideology.

Want to cut population growth and birth rates by two thirds or more?
That's simple: EDUCATE, EMANCIPATE AND MAKE 'M RICH.

Look at the population growth and birth rates in the poorest countries then juxtapose those figures against the same figures in countries that are most developed. E.g. Scandinavia, the low countries, Germany, Japan. With the lowest birth rates.
In the most developed countries the average number of children per woman/couple is very low, 2 or 3 max., and the women get those children much later in life: average age 29/32 for the first child. In very poor countries the average age for getting the first child is 15/16, and the average number of children between 10 and 20! Of which many survive with UNESCO health programs!

But I want to bet they don't fuck any less in Scandinavia...

[Rokcet Scientist]

I.o.w. make the global population rich and the population growth will stymie.

Sounds simple enough, doesn't it?

Problem is: it is impossible. Because rich is a relative term...
One can only be rich relative to someone poor.
So the rich need the poor poor or they wouldn't be rich.

Catch 22.

As long as homo sapiens sapiens remains competitive (we all want to be richer, better, wiser than everybody else) the population will keep growing. Checked by a couple rather crude proxy mechanisms. Like wars, pandemics, and disasters.
That cure may kill us, though.

[Erinome]

I have a theory: Nearly all epidemics could be annihilated, or nearly so, if the whole human species began to treat religion as an epidemic.

The Catholics, as we all know, do a lot of work in Africa, wherein AIDS is a huge problem. They speak against the use of condoms, despite the fact that it helps the prevention of AIDS. The real reason that Catholics are against the use of contraceptives, besides the ones they contrived from the bible, is because a long time ago they needed Catholics having more Catholics, so the chain of scamming money from indoctrinated, deluded individuals could continue for years to come. This is just one example of how religion is harmful to society, and it does have a bearing on evolution, namely in the form of natural selection.

Evolutionary Biologists, along with evolutionary psychologists do keep a close eye on religion in the modern world. Believe it or not, they thought of that before you did, and it's only a theory.