Religion

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I’ve read from secular sites and media programs that the higher the intelligence depended on a sense of curiosity about ourselves, of new ways of surviving in a changing world. This in turn led to a sense that humans must have a purpose, thus the invention of gods.

I don’t hold to that argument since it’s circular and just plain too neat and symetrical. It doesn’t answer why there was a sudden increase in intelligence nor why all humans are the same species nor tells us why we have an inborn sense that some things are right and others wrong nor our yearning for more than the life we have here on earth.
 
That doesn’t really explain the existence of religion either. Are they saying that religion is a fundamental step in evolution. That all species must go through a time of religious belief to get to an age of science?

If so why is religious belief necessarily for the progression of intellect?
 
SpeakInSilence said:
That doesn’t really explain the existence of religion either. Are they saying that religion is a fundamental step in evolution. That all species must go through a time of religious belief to get to an age of science?

If so why is religious belief necessarily for the progression of intellect?
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They see it as a part of our “growing up” as a species. Nearly every episode of Star Trek that dealt with religion made it out to be a part of adolescence in sentient species, something to grow out of as a species “progresses”. Of course, that assumes that species go through growth stages akin to growing up–babyhood, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, old age. They believe, with no evidence to prove it, that such intelligent species will “transend” in to spiritual creatures not dependent on physical form. Of course, that means that you and I are simply “stuck” in this phase of our species’ development with no chance of winning to this higher plain of existence. It’s funny really. They want heaven, but on their own terms.
 
We are a curious specie, always asking from our youth “why”. God, in His mercy, was kind enough to come down and answer that question in person. Many of us are drawn to that amazing love that teaches us to love, the love that heals us, the love which sets us free.
 
But once again I am left with the question of why it’s needed? We need to drink because if we didn’t we would die, same with food, but these are things that we physically need. We have developed ways to obtain these things.

If we as a species developed a religious systems, wouldn’t it say something of our nature?
 
Without God we wouldnt exist. He sustains us in everything. If he sustains us in everything, how could we not want to learn about him and love him more?
 
SpeakInSilence said:
I was pondering the question of religion, and why it seems that people are more naturally prone to religious intuition religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/11/study-more-educated-tend-to-be-more-religious-by-some-measures/.

So that got me thinking on an evolutionary scale, why do humans unlike other animals need to have an explanation for their existence. It seems like compare to a basic understanding of religious thought is counter productive.

Any thoughts?
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Why not read part 1 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church?

vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM

I think you will find it helpful. The sources you use makes all the difference.

👍
 
SpeakInSilence said:
But once again I am left with the question of why it’s needed? We need to drink because if we didn’t we would die, same with food, but these are things that we physically need. We have developed ways to obtain these things.

If we as a species developed a religious systems, wouldn’t it say something of our nature?
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Well, that’s the obvious conclusion–and one I agree with. 🙂 The problem is, as I see it, that some people simply do not want religion to be a intregral part of who we are as a species, so they have to invent ideas, such as “we will grow out of it”. IOW, they won’t accept, despite all evidence to the contrary, that human beings have an intrinsic a need for God. They think man invented God in order to make sense of human existence, but that’s putting the cart after the horse and ignores the reality that man has always understood that he is a created being answerable to his Creator.
 
SpeakInSilence said:
That doesn’t really explain the existence of religion either. Are they saying that religion is a fundamental step in evolution. That all species must go through a time of religious belief to get to an age of science?

If so why is religious belief necessarily for the progression of intellect?
Click to expand...
SS:

The answers to “Why?” questions are always more intellectual than answers to “What, When, Where?” questions. Many of the latter questions were answered by primitives. But, “Why?” questions continue to vex us.

For one reason, answers to “Why?” questions are usually speculative, unless you can ask the impetus of the question. In other words, if I put up a fence around my yard, and you ask me directly, Why did I do it? I may tell you. You can believe it or not. If you believe it, the question is closed. If you don’t, the question remains open for further speculation. E.g., “Did I put that fence up to keep you out?”

Sooner or later, mankind gets around to asking the Why? of everything. When man reached a level of intelligence whereby God could insert himself into man’s life without closing off further speculation, he did. And man continues to speculate. Some listened to the words of other men, and the words of Jesus, and believed. Some continue to speculate. But, God chose the time just right, so that all men would speculate to some degree or another. Yet, we were capable of understanding and choosing. And doing so freely. Our own intelligences can get in the way of our faith, limiting freedom. And, Faith through Freedom is supremely important to our Lord. Because then it is solidly real.

I don’t necessarily think “religion” has anything to do with some kind of ‘evolution’. Rather, I think it emerges from the dialectics of free, higher intellects.

God bless,
jd
 
It has been proven that human beings have a “God part of the brain”, which is responsible to our religious experiences. Some would say this is an argument to disprove God and religion, but there is another possible explanation. To me, it would seem that we humans are born “ready for religion”. If we do have a region in our brain related to each of our sensations, emotions and physical cognitions, it seems very logical that we would have a region in our brain ready to “feel God”, if it wasn’t important, it wouldn’t even be there in the first place. How do you explain the existence of such a region from a naturalistic/evolutionary point of view? My take is that, indeed, the brain is a map to our soul, and the regions are made to interact in such ways with our soul.
 
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