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L.A. Hall

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Would religion exist if the first humans had our scientific knowledge?

I am steadfast in my opposition of religion.

I believe there is a beauty to mystery and living well. I believe religion unknowingly does its followers wrong. It tells them that all beauty you see is God's doing.

I believe God is the ultimate manifestation of not knowing the answers. He is the life-filled alternative to an "I don't know."

I believe religion functions as ethics, as philosophy, for those too weak to act good on their own fruition, and need some sort of motivation to be good: a ticket to heaven will do.

So, my question is this: do you believe that, if the first humans knew everything we know today -- about biology, chemistry, physics, economics, and so on -- would religion exist? If so, why? If not, would this be a good or bad thing?

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    pat gilbert 50+

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    Jan 4 2013: Yes, because it is organic to us. Hmm lets see where have they banned religion? Not completely but definitely to some degree China, Germany, the USSR, Cambodia, etc
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      Faisel Butt

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      Jan 5 2013: The question is about whether our ancestors would have the need for religion, if they had the knowledge we have today.

      You are talking about dictatorships that have banned religion.

      Please explain your logic?
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        pat gilbert 50+

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        Jan 5 2013: Which I answered with the an in depth yes.

        He then asked would that be good or bad, I indicated that imo in the places where they put restrictions on religion it appeared to be a bad thing?
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          L.A. Hall

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          Jan 5 2013: This isn't about the restriction of beliefs. This is about how you think our society would have progressed -- with or without religion? -- given our ancestors knew everything we know about science and the physical world.
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        pat gilbert 50+

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        Jan 5 2013: Those were places where religion was restricted, I point out that they might be indicative of whether this would be good or bad.
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          Faisel Butt

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          Jan 5 2013: So you would accept the crusades, the Spanish inquisition and suicide bombers as an indication of the opposite point of view?
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        pat gilbert 50+

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        Jan 5 2013: and that would be the other perspective. Definitely not a scientific correlation.

        Either way my point is that religion and spirituality are organic to humans.

        The fact that it get perverted is not surprising. The good news is that when it does the religion goes extinct like the Shakers.
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          Faisel Butt

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          Jan 5 2013: I believe you are mistaking scientific correlation with personal opinion.

          Again, what we are discussing is human beings free choice, and whether they would choose religion. Derailing the debate into the extremes does not help anyone.

          Asking questions and a desire to understand our place in the world is inherent to humans. We are capable of fulfilling this without religion.

          I'm not trying to attack your religion, but you must respect that some people find religions contradictory, archaic and man made.

          Before we discovered gravity it was a common belief that in order to explain the world, one must have a deity in order to keep the everything in motion. Would this be the case if they new what we know today?
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        pat gilbert 50+

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        Jan 5 2013: I will agree to disagree

        Happy New Year
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          Faisel Butt

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          Jan 5 2013: Hi Pat

          I thought that was what debates were for. Not to agree, but at least distill the essence of the disagreement.

          As it is, I do not know what you disagree with or why.

          Either way, happy new year to you too.
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        pat gilbert 50+

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        Jan 5 2013: It appears to me to boil down to is religion organic to man or not. I side with the prior.

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