Re: Constructed Religions

On Thu, 31 Dec 1998, Hawksinger wrote:

> As for the Nowans, I view religion as being a uniquely Homo sapiens
> trait until MUCH better evidence to the contrary is presented.  Because
> the Nowans are a related species they might have religion, but then
> again they might not.  There are interesting implications for either
> choice.  As several of you have demonstrated, having a conreligion
> allows you to develop the conculture in very interesting ways not
> to mention the beautiful architecture found around the world in a
> myriad of ways.  That is very appealing to me for the Nowans.
>
It has been suggested that religion has been a human trait since the
earliest human buried a body with flower pollen, and possibly since
someone stacked bear skulls in a cave.

I read an article on _Consilience_ by Edward O Wilson, a "controversal
biologist", a couple of weeks ago.  Let me quote a few bits.

'"Consilience is both a theory and...an adventure."  The word derives from
the Latin, "leaping together", and refers to the natural unity that should
exist between the sciences and the humanities.'

'The publication of _Sociobiology_ in the 70s brought howls of outrage
from psychologists, sociologists and philosophers.  Wilson claimed that
evolution not only genetically encoded our general physical appearances,
but also the general rules guiding our behaviours - everything from
altruism to religion and capitalism'

'And religion?  While still a believer, Wilson argues that religion's
function "is the ensemble of mythic narratives that explain the origin of
a people, their destiny, and why they are obliged to subscribe to
particular rituals and moral codes.  Ethical and religious beliefs are
created from the bottom up, from people to their culture.  They do not
come from the top down, from God."  Instead, "strong innate feelings and
historical experience casue certain actions to be preferred: we have
experienced them, and weighed their consequences, and agree to conform
with codes that express them".'

'And, to those distressed by his arguments against a personal God, he
says, "It's not so bad.  Once we get over the shock of discovering that
the universe was not made for us in mind, all the meaning, all the
emotions and all the shared adventure we might wish to enjoy can be
found..." '

I found it an interesting article but it didn't make me want to rush out
and leave my religion with a personal god behind!  Maybe I might even
track down a copy of the book and read it.

- andrew.

Andrew Smith, Intheologus                       hobbit@earthlight.co.nz
Q. Why are there so many Smiths in the Phone Book?
A. Because they all have telephones!

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