--- Chad Cooper <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: <snip> > I have a theory (which of course would not meet > Erik's stringent standard > for what is required to formulate a theory) that > genetics plays a strong > role in experiencing "spirituality". <sniplet> > All religions have this one thing in common. All > feelings of spirituality has a common element of > "feeling God" or "knowing > their place in the Universe" <sniplet> > Most people feel this at one time, some more > than others. I can't > help but to think that some people (like myself) > lack the necessary > component to "feel God" in the same degree and > manner. Some people are > raised religious, but never gain conviction. Others > never have exposure to > religion, yet do claim to have "felt God" and > profess a belief and love of God.
If genetics does play a role (intriguing yet disturbing thought, and dovetails with the notion of 'a brain hard-wired for spirituality'), what is the evolutionary survival value to such an experience? Does it help bind a small family group/tribe together in an improved-reproductive-success way, by promoting a sense of "connectedness"? Does it help the individual sacrifice ers life "for the good of the tribe" by giving a sense of continuance despite an obviously fatal scenario? > Why is this? Taking the religious position, one > could say that they have not > "let God in". I believe that for some people > (perhaps that 10% of us who are > 'godless')they (I) lack something which provides > this unshaken belief in so many people. > I would assert that most people who do believe in > God, know that it is based > upon faith, but do have personal validation, despite > its illogicalness. <sniplet> Being an > objectivist, I have been taught to scoff at the > idea, with the clear and > simple argument - "Where's the Beef!". I struggled > with this for many, many years. WHY DO THEY BELIEVE! Asking the question from a more tolerant religious perspective, if Faith is a Gift or Grace bestowed by God for the 'poor sinner' to be capable of belief, then how can an individual be blamed for lack of Faith? This is a question I, a believer who has felt that "oneness with the Universe," have wrestled with, as it makes Belief impossible without Divine Intervention...and what sin have those who *cannot* feel Faith have committed to merit such isolation from God? How is that at all fair or merciful? It isn't, of course - in fact, it fits one non-literalist definitions of hell. > I personally would like proof, even if it was a > personal conviction. Life > may have been easier for me as a strong church goer, > having faith in the > Lord, doing the Lord's work. It did not come, but it > did have an interesting > effect - It freed me to be critical of God, his > believers, and the dogma associated with God. > > In talking to my parents about this, I came to > realize that my freedom from > "feeling God" places me in a position to be > unbiased, and by this, I become > an "intellectual guardian", able to question and > challenge those who use > religion for evil, as a weapon or as an implement of > control. I pay a price > in this, but it is _undenialable _that I contribute > to the health of > religion, by being its intellectual guardian - to > question bad religion, bad > beliefs, bad science, bad memes. Some say that > religion will die. I'm > suggesting that religion will mature and grow > stronger as science > progresses. Science has and will break down the > toxic memes of religion, and > will influence the culture of religion to enhance > the survivialability of humanity. A built-in check and balance? A reasonable notion, IMO. > Call it the God or Spirituality Gene. Some of us > don't understand what it > means to believe in God. Evolution may have made us > that way. But Gaia may a > role for Atheists and Agnostics - it's to make > religion better for the > common man. I believe I was born to do the job. For > all of you who believe, > I think you owe me your thanks for defending the > Lord's work. Intriguing. Thank you. Debbi __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Calendar - Free online calendar with sync to Outlook(TM). http://calendar.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
