will these religions ever come to an end?

[Azazylix]

If everyone realized morality was natural and innate - then why would anyone need faith? Why would they need to start a religion based on common knowledge of the natural?

Unless you are arguing that although morality is innate.... perhaps so is the desire to 'worship' and/or 'ritual' in some of us?

EvF

Haha no, I was trying to say that as long as a society is formed -> herd mentality -> common moral grounds, which would be similar to a religion. From Nietzsche, if I am not mistaken. Emphasis on the creation of common moral standards.

And yeah, that's the downside of human creativity, I believe. xD

Hmm, but I have to differ with regard to your later comment, in that I think ideas and, more importantly, beliefs can end. For the latter, I merely raise Thor, Anubis, and other gods we now call fairytales. And considering religion stems from belief, perhaps this is more applicable.

Regarding ideas, one need only imagine the countless mechanical prototypes Da Vinci PROBABLY thought of, but then forgotten to draw out. Or an old fable that failed to survive to the invention of paper. Or, in more recent context, China, where all religion or Western thinking was banned ages back. I daresay ideas, without proper communication, die with time.

Or maybe if, one fine day, the entire human race was wiped out by a zombie apocalypse. Then, I'm afraid, my grandmother's secret recipes will cease to exist!

[tackattack]

Would a race of zombies have a religion?

[theVOID]

Would a race of zombies have a religion?

I would assume not. Where is your question coming from?

[tackattack]

nothing serious just the zombie apocolypse referenced above.

[TruthWorthy]

Interesting discussion I just read. Covering some issues about human existence and the life span of ideas, the changing world and evolution in relation to judgement and even zombies and religion which I think is supposed to suggest that a brain is required for religion to exist, which I whole heartedly agree with.
I suppose ideas replace one another, or they can be extensions of old ones. Take the new testament, for example.
I think there is a very similar event taking place with AF members here and the way the religious apply themselves to their faith. You can wonder all day about "how do these wackos go on believing something in the face of what's real and true (to us - don't get excited ppl). While at the same time we're all too ready to understand the inner confusion and the elite logical discussion which will refute any claim about what we know to be rubbish. I bring this up because I'm questioning the logic myself. It is getting absorbed in an idea, becoming consumed by it.
Ulrichs zombie sociology represents the concept of past beliefs, behaviours, etc from outdated and useless cultures/religions, etc. While you can learn more about the fragmentation of new age movements which make identifying the multitude and thereby giving them definitions impossible; can be obtained in such books on the developments in theology, such as this.

[Edwardo Piet]

Actually belief in for example, Thor, has not ended... it's just EXTREMELY uncommon - and anyone who believes in him is considered nutty! But it's no more nutty than say, Christianity.

In fact Sam Harris once said how some beliefs have died out such as belief in Thor and Zeus and that "no one believed in them any more" (to paraphrase a tiny bit maybe). And then he received hate mail from believers in Zeus and Thor, etc!

EvF

[TruthWorthy]

Yet more evidence these irrational ideas aren't going away anytime soon: greek mythological gods; and, christian god(s).

[Edwardo Piet]

So I don't think any beliefs can 100% die out really... but for religion to pretty much become mythological on the other hand, I don't see that as impossible.... who knows? How can we judge the future when we don't even know how far in the future we are talking about

No harm in trying of course... that's what speculation is all about

EvF

[A897]

i think religion will die down eventually. As science is unveiling mysteries which people used to answer as god did it. When they'l start getting answers through science and more importantly when they realize that morality doesn't need religion to be practiced then maybe they start giving chance to new ideas.

[Rhizomorph13]

Truthworthy,

You know the religious also think, "how do these wackos go on believing something in the face of what's real and true." It is this fact that makes these forums so fun and the problem of our different beliefs interesting.

What is the path from theist to atheist or from atheist to theist?

Rhizo