Whenever humans exist as groups, rules evolve to prevent anarchy, which is antithetical to survival and even more so to prosperity. This applies to religion as well as to secular activities.
This is the origin of religious doctrine, which should not be considered synonymous with religion itself, which is the simple and probably instinctive inclination to believe in a higher power -- instinctive because such a belief fosters survival -- from courage to persevere to faith that one is not alone and has a higher order help mate.
When athletes pray before a competition, they do not do so for the approbation of their peers but for spiritual performance enhancement. I think that this is the most visible modern day illustration that religion arises more from innate individual longing than from forced conformity to societal norms, e.g. http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-13575702.
Religious doctrine can be the enemy of religion. Atheism arises from an examination and intellectual rejection of religious doctrines, rather than from an innate instinct to disbelieve in the possibility of a higher power. But focusing on the doctrines is simply missing out on the possibility of perceiving the forest because of an obsession with the trees.
- Larry Weisenthal/Huntington Beach CA
This is the origin of religious doctrine, which should not be considered synonymous with religion itself, which is the simple and probably instinctive inclination to believe in a higher power -- instinctive because such a belief fosters survival -- from courage to persevere to faith that one is not alone and has a higher order help mate.
When athletes pray before a competition, they do not do so for the approbation of their peers but for spiritual performance enhancement. I think that this is the most visible modern day illustration that religion arises more from innate individual longing than from forced conformity to societal norms, e.g. http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-13575702.
Religious doctrine can be the enemy of religion. Atheism arises from an examination and intellectual rejection of religious doctrines, rather than from an innate instinct to disbelieve in the possibility of a higher power. But focusing on the doctrines is simply missing out on the possibility of perceiving the forest because of an obsession with the trees.
- Larry Weisenthal/Huntington Beach CA
