RE: Is belief in God a natural instinct ?
November 18, 2012 at 4:41 pm
(This post was last modified: November 18, 2012 at 4:58 pm by The Grand Nudger.)
Anthropomorphism does appear to be instinctual, yes. The level that this instinct is developed into something like a religious system complete with a "god" appears to be something much more elaborate and varied. The man on the moon, for example, may not be a god, but he's a step between the moon and a god.
"This car is trying to kill me"
"The sun wont cooperate today"
"The fish are laughing at us down there"
"The mountains called to me"
etc etc etc
One of the more glaringly obvious explanations for this behavior might have something to do with how important interpreting the intentions of others is to us...or , how we -as human beings- conceptualize things in a way that is particular to human beings....because we are using ourselves as a frame of reference. It's a short trip from a sun that doesn't cooperate to a sun that does...a sun that you are grateful toward...and how do we express our gratitude? We give gifts, we form bonds, we express solidarity and kinship. We are "faithful". If we didn't have so many competing instinctual behaviors (and all other "things") I could easily imagine a world in which we all worshiped the sun. Amusingly, at some point...most of "us" have. On the other hand, this behavior itself can be counterproductive to itself. That we have a decided bent towards it is undeniable..but how do we choose what we impose our own motivations upon..and in a disagreement between an uncooperative sun and a murderous car...who are we to side with (or who's representative..more elaborately)? No worries..we seem to have instincts for handling that decision as well....
"This car is trying to kill me"
"The sun wont cooperate today"
"The fish are laughing at us down there"
"The mountains called to me"
etc etc etc
One of the more glaringly obvious explanations for this behavior might have something to do with how important interpreting the intentions of others is to us...or , how we -as human beings- conceptualize things in a way that is particular to human beings....because we are using ourselves as a frame of reference. It's a short trip from a sun that doesn't cooperate to a sun that does...a sun that you are grateful toward...and how do we express our gratitude? We give gifts, we form bonds, we express solidarity and kinship. We are "faithful". If we didn't have so many competing instinctual behaviors (and all other "things") I could easily imagine a world in which we all worshiped the sun. Amusingly, at some point...most of "us" have. On the other hand, this behavior itself can be counterproductive to itself. That we have a decided bent towards it is undeniable..but how do we choose what we impose our own motivations upon..and in a disagreement between an uncooperative sun and a murderous car...who are we to side with (or who's representative..more elaborately)? No worries..we seem to have instincts for handling that decision as well....
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
