ILPPENDANT's version, of my OP (thankyou for the input):
The other day there was a thread on the "If a tree falls in the wood" question which led me to start thinking about how much we as a species assume.
Every day you leave for work or school, or just go out, and you expect everything at home to be the same as you left it; you assume that where you're going is the same as yesterday. We make these assumptions because otherwise we would be pretty screwed. Can you imagine our predecessors chasing after an antelope, only to see run behind a tree and become completely at a loss as to where it went? It makes sense that we as a species would have adapted to be more viable at finding things that leave our senses, so even if we can't see it we believe it exists beyond our vision.
Now, even young animals - wolves, squirrels etc. - show this; it's not unique to humans so how does this have anything to do with beliefs? Well, if we couple this with our greater self awareness, (I can in no way prove this) we could suddenly find ourselves in a position where when we reflect on abstract ideas they get combined with the understanding that things happen beyond our perceptions. These ideas could mesh together to allow us to accept the concept of god.
To simplify: we assume things happen outside our immediate perception each day, couple that with our ability to think abstractly, we reflect on this and suddenly we begin seeing daily events playing out in a way that suggests they can be influenced by an exterior power.
Now, you may think that's well and good, but animals such as apes and dolphins show this and (from what we know of them) they don't believe in god. However, perhaps it's a consequence of greater self awareness and the belief that things happen beyond our control. So while initially we may think back and link yesterday's breakfast with an idea that everything sort of happened on its own, we may begin to introduce an idea that someone has influenced that and perhaps we start connecting dots. This allows us to function in everyday life without fears and worries because we believe an omnipotent being is helping us through the day, which will allow us to go and face threats and dangers with courage. We believe we could overcome an obstacle because we are being helped, thus allowing us to do bigger and better things (build houses, get to more fertile land etc.) meaning greater chances of survival. So is this thanks to evolution?
The other day there was a thread on the "If a tree falls in the wood" question which led me to start thinking about how much we as a species assume.
Every day you leave for work or school, or just go out, and you expect everything at home to be the same as you left it; you assume that where you're going is the same as yesterday. We make these assumptions because otherwise we would be pretty screwed. Can you imagine our predecessors chasing after an antelope, only to see run behind a tree and become completely at a loss as to where it went? It makes sense that we as a species would have adapted to be more viable at finding things that leave our senses, so even if we can't see it we believe it exists beyond our vision.
Now, even young animals - wolves, squirrels etc. - show this; it's not unique to humans so how does this have anything to do with beliefs? Well, if we couple this with our greater self awareness, (I can in no way prove this) we could suddenly find ourselves in a position where when we reflect on abstract ideas they get combined with the understanding that things happen beyond our perceptions. These ideas could mesh together to allow us to accept the concept of god.
To simplify: we assume things happen outside our immediate perception each day, couple that with our ability to think abstractly, we reflect on this and suddenly we begin seeing daily events playing out in a way that suggests they can be influenced by an exterior power.
Now, you may think that's well and good, but animals such as apes and dolphins show this and (from what we know of them) they don't believe in god. However, perhaps it's a consequence of greater self awareness and the belief that things happen beyond our control. So while initially we may think back and link yesterday's breakfast with an idea that everything sort of happened on its own, we may begin to introduce an idea that someone has influenced that and perhaps we start connecting dots. This allows us to function in everyday life without fears and worries because we believe an omnipotent being is helping us through the day, which will allow us to go and face threats and dangers with courage. We believe we could overcome an obstacle because we are being helped, thus allowing us to do bigger and better things (build houses, get to more fertile land etc.) meaning greater chances of survival. So is this thanks to evolution?
The other day there was a thread on the "If a tree falls in the wood" question which leads me to start thinking about how much we as a species assume.
Everyday you leave for work or school or just go out and you expect -at home- everything is the same as you left it, you assume that where you?re going is the same as yesterday. We make these assumptions because otherwise we would be pretty screwed. Can you imagine our predecessors chasing after an antelope, only to have it run behind a tree and they then become completely at a loss as to where it went? So in any case we as a species have adapted to be more viable at finding things that leave our senses, so if we can't see it we believe it exists beyond our vision. Fair enough, so even young animals show this from wolves to squirrels it's not unique, so how does this have anything to do with beliefs? Well, if we couple this with our greater self awareness, (I can in no way prove this) we could suddenly find ourselves in a position where we reflect on ideas and they get incorporated with this sense that things happen beyond our perceptions. So these idea's could mesh together to allow us to accept the concept of god.
So to simplify this, we assume things happen out of our perceptions everyday, couple that with the notion that we reflect on this and suddenly we begin seeing daily events playing out which can be influenced by an exterior power.
Now okay, that's fine you may think to yourself, but animals such as ape's and dolphins show this, and (from what we know of them) they don't believe in god. However perhaps it's a consequence greater self awareness and the belief that things happen beyond our control. So while initially may think back and link yesterday's breakfast with an idea that they everything sort of happened, you may begin to include an idea that someone has influenced that and perhaps we start connecting dots. This allows us to function in everyday life without fears and worries because we believe an omnipotent being is helping us through the day, this will allow us to go and face threats and dangers with courage that we could overcome the obstacle because we are being helped. Thus allowing us to do bigger and better things (build houses, get to more fertile land etc) meaning greater chances of survival. So is this thanks to evolution?
I hope this is clearer, but I'm not great on my grammar.
Everyday you leave for work or school or just go out and you expect -at home- everything is the same as you left it, you assume that where you?re going is the same as yesterday. We make these assumptions because otherwise we would be pretty screwed. Can you imagine our predecessors chasing after an antelope, only to have it run behind a tree and they then become completely at a loss as to where it went? So in any case we as a species have adapted to be more viable at finding things that leave our senses, so if we can't see it we believe it exists beyond our vision. Fair enough, so even young animals show this from wolves to squirrels it's not unique, so how does this have anything to do with beliefs? Well, if we couple this with our greater self awareness, (I can in no way prove this) we could suddenly find ourselves in a position where we reflect on ideas and they get incorporated with this sense that things happen beyond our perceptions. So these idea's could mesh together to allow us to accept the concept of god.
So to simplify this, we assume things happen out of our perceptions everyday, couple that with the notion that we reflect on this and suddenly we begin seeing daily events playing out which can be influenced by an exterior power.
Now okay, that's fine you may think to yourself, but animals such as ape's and dolphins show this, and (from what we know of them) they don't believe in god. However perhaps it's a consequence greater self awareness and the belief that things happen beyond our control. So while initially may think back and link yesterday's breakfast with an idea that they everything sort of happened, you may begin to include an idea that someone has influenced that and perhaps we start connecting dots. This allows us to function in everyday life without fears and worries because we believe an omnipotent being is helping us through the day, this will allow us to go and face threats and dangers with courage that we could overcome the obstacle because we are being helped. Thus allowing us to do bigger and better things (build houses, get to more fertile land etc) meaning greater chances of survival. So is this thanks to evolution?
I hope this is clearer, but I'm not great on my grammar.
