uuworld.org : assembly of a lesser god: "Belief and worship are powerful tools for organizing thought and behavior. If others get control of those tools, they can make us dance like puppets. But if we’re careful, we can learn to pull our own strings."
The article and conclusion are probably not worth reading. The abstract says it all except:
Evolution has strongly reinforced the traits for belief and worship. We have them whether we like them or not.
The placebo effect works. All you have to do is believe. Believe it.
Context
5 hours ago
2 comments:
Oh how I really hate to nitpick but one of my "sore spots" is the overuse and misapplication of the word "evolution:" evolution is [for the record]
In biology, evolution is the change in the inherited traits of a population from generation to generation. These traits are the expression of genes that are copied and passed on to offspring during reproduction. Mutations in these genes can produce new or altered traits, resulting in heritable differences (genetic variation) between organisms. New traits can also come from transfer of genes between populations, as in migration, or between species, in horizontal gene transfer. Evolution occurs when these heritable differences become more common or rare in a population, either non-randomly through natural selection or randomly through genetic drift.
Natural Selection, the process, is identified as being operant when a particular genetic trait provides a reproductive advantage over a species "configuration" lacking the trait. [Example: It can be observed both statistically and practically that green frogs have a distinct survival advantage over white or red frogs.]
From a child's point of view, belief in the safety/life-lessons given to them by their parents and extended family will certainly result in a survival advantage during their "dependent years" but the social statistics tell us that during their reproductive years, the average young adult will be at their lowest lkevel of Belief/worship. Fter their teens, they leave the churches in droves, returning only when they have strong family ties and young children they wish to have aid indoctrinating in their rediscovered beliefs.
Worshiping is another "poor word:" Worship usually refers to specific acts of religious praise, honour, or devotion, typically directed to a supernatural being such as God, a god or goddess. It is the informal term in English for what sociologists of religion call cultus, the body of practices and traditions that correspond to theology. Worship is not a genetic trait that affords reproductive advantage; [unless one was under the rule of a tyrant that demanded worship in exchange for one's life, then and only then could one say there was a reproductive advantage to worshipping.]
Ok back to square 1. Belief and worship are traits that have been strongly reinforced by natural selection as they seem to be quite important to the socialization process, particularly in localized small groups. Historically, and even prehistorically as best we can determine these small groups have been organized around a congregating place that might as well be called a church even if it was just a firepit with logs around it to sit on. When the work is done the group gathers to share stories, and indoctrinate children in the values and social procedures of the group. You may call this process whatever you wish but it sounds like worship to me, particularly as the shamans certainly co opted these gatherings early in prehistory. These values and socialization are not presented as discussable items, but as beliefs. "This is what we do."
According to one theory Levitin even before there was language there was music around those fire pits and language grew out of the need for more complex expressions. Hey, if we sing and tell stories with moral values it sounds like worship to me.
The upshot is beware of the shaman, you will worship and believe anyway, it is built in, just make sure you pick your beliefs wisely.
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