At some point in the Middle/Far East long ago, the gods worshipped were many, and varied. Somehow between then and now it has become reasonably 'standard' to accept that there is only one God. What was the process that brought mankind along this path?
Take a look at The Sacred Canopy by Peter L. Burger and In the Spirit of the Earth by Calvin Luther Martin. Both show the relationship between the emergence of Monotheism and the quest for social and political power during the Neolithic Revolution.
Originally posted by Wulebgr Take a look at The Sacred Canopy by Peter L. Burger and In the Spirit of the Earth by Calvin Luther Martin. Both show the relationship between the emergence of Monotheism and the quest for social and political power during the Neolithic Revolution.
Neolithic? that long ago?
Edit: I have not read much about this - does that imply that religion is a social development; and leads to the creation of organisations like churchs that are there to further the adherants own ends?
Originally posted by snowinscotland Neolithic? that long ago?
Edit: I have not read much about this - does that imply that religion is a social development; and leads to the creation of organisations like churchs that are there to further the adherants own ends?
Originally posted by snowinscotland At some point in the Middle/Far East long ago, the gods worshipped were many, and varied. Somehow between then and now it has become reasonably 'standard' to accept that there is only one God. What was the process that brought mankind along this path?
Many gods leads to some gods' adherents being more successful than others. Eventually this leads to monotheism, as that god's adherents suppress religious competition.
Originally posted by AThousandYoung Many gods leads to some gods' adherents being more successful than others. Eventually this leads to monotheism, as that god's adherents suppress religious competition.
That's just a guess though.
For example the suppression of the Cathars? I always thought this was a product of some rather barbaric middle ages power struggle, but was it the wiping out of a rival to the church?
Originally posted by snowinscotland At some point in the Middle/Far East long ago, the gods worshipped were many, and varied. Somehow between then and now it has become reasonably 'standard' to accept that there is only one God. What was the process that brought mankind along this path?
Take a look at India and Japan. Both have Thousands of Gods today...They seem to be doing alright. and tend to be less brainwashed then some Xtians I have met...
Originally posted by mochiron Take a look at India and Japan. Both have Thousands of Gods today...They seem to be doing alright. and tend to be less brainwashed then some Xtians I have met...
If you look at the far east where is the advantage in having many gods?
You cannot deny that the science that took place (mostly in religious orders) that led to the edge in development took place in Europe. What was the evolutionary advantage?
Originally posted by snowinscotland If you look at the far east where is the advantage in having many gods?
You cannot deny that the science that took place (mostly in religious orders) that led to the edge in development took place in Europe. What was the evolutionary advantage?
From an evolutionary perspective, China is far ahead of anything in the West. Genes care only for replication, and the Chinese have been far more proficient in this. Furthermore any technical advantage the Europeans enjoy cannot be demonstrated without their active use of gunpowder (invented in China).
Originally posted by Wulebgr From an evolutionary perspective, China is far ahead of anything in the West. Genes care only for replication, and the Chinese have been far more proficient in this. Furthermore any technical advantage the Europeans enjoy cannot be demonstrated without their active use of gunpowder (invented in China).
But there is some talk that they are going to be having a crisis in the near future related to the male/female ratio, that there are too many males. They estimate this will create all kinds of social problems with many men being left out of the "market" so to speak.
Originally posted by kirksey957 But there is some talk that they are going to be having a crisis in the near future related to the male/female ratio, that there are too many males. They estimate this will create all kinds of social problems with many men being left out of the "market" so to speak.
Such problems are already manifesting themselves, including a rise in gangs.
Originally posted by Wulebgr From an evolutionary perspective, China is far ahead of anything in the West. Genes care only for replication, and the Chinese have been far more proficient in this. Furthermore any technical advantage the Europeans enjoy cannot be demonstrated without their active use of gunpowder (invented in China).
China looked to itself, because it found only 'barbarians' outside. Yet the barbarians leapt beyond them technologically; so there must have been an advantage, was this advantage faith? Did it give some focus that allowed the 'west' the mental ability to 'out-think' the east?
I sincerly doubt that polytheism was important in the development of gunpowder. Also, the cultural problem of valuing male babies over females is certainly not limited to any one region or religion. The reason it is such an issue in China is the laws limiting the number of children, which would certainly be more of a consequence of communism than of polytheism.
Originally posted by UmbrageOfSnow I sincerly doubt that polytheism was important in the development of gunpowder. Also, the cultural problem of valuing male babies over females is certainly not limited to any one region or religion. The reason it is such an issue in China is the laws limiting the number of children, which would certainly be more of a consequence of communism than of polytheism.
Also, the cultural problem of valuing male babies over females is certainly not limited to any one region or religion.
Indeed, remember in Christianity a woman is owned by her husband.
Originally posted by snowinscotland If you look at the far east where is the advantage in having many gods?
You cannot deny that the science that took place (mostly in religious orders) that led to the edge in development took place in Europe. What was the evolutionary advantage?
The Japanese and Chinese were, for hundreds of years, light years ahead of the Europeans in terms of technological development. They had gunpowder, and understood the importance of boiling water to kill diseases when the Christian church was still drilling holes in peoples heads to let the bad spirits out.
Polynesians (and the Chinese that they developed from) navigated the Pacific anywhere up to 40,000 years ago (aboriginals) and had found America (south America at least) hundreds of years before Europeans did.
09 Feb '07 20:291 edit
The evolution of religion
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