But he says it in response to my original point
which was, it's hard wired, having no religion is relativley rare and either something that is being dropped through natural selection OR because we have modern education and scientific method to get round our innate need to answer the inanswerable.

His argument seems to be No you're wrong because: "we have modern education and scientific method to get round our innate need to answer the inanswerable YOU SPASTIC"
(PsychoChomp, Thu 28 Feb 2013, 11:48, 2 replies, latest was 12 years ago)

You seem to be saying that religion is in the nature of man
whereas what I think you mean is that the need for explanations is.
( Kroney, Thu 28 Feb 2013, 11:50, Reply)

I was pointing out that it clearly isn't hardwired, no one bilogically inherits a religeous belief
they may inherit it from their parents and surroundings, but they are not born with it. Hence the idea that if you remove all traces of religion then a society could form with out it.
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Thu 28 Feb 2013, 11:51, Reply)

None ever have though.

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Thu 28 Feb 2013, 11:54, Reply)

Because they need to know the answers
not having access to the real answers, they make up stories. That is how all religions form.
( Kroney, Thu 28 Feb 2013, 11:55, Reply)

There's always more questions

(PsychoChomp, Thu 28 Feb 2013, 11:58, Reply)

Can't argue there
but if you're brought up to look for scientific answers, then those are the answers you'll seek.
( Kroney, Thu 28 Feb 2013, 11:59, Reply)

Of course, but far more have now been answered than at any point in human history
the chances of a Jesus figure occurring in the 21st century are slim to none, for exactly this reason.
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Thu 28 Feb 2013, 12:02, Reply)

There's nothing clear about it either way.
It's a hugley contentious thing to research. But there's pretty decent evidence and theories that it is innate and instictual and that it gave a competitive advantage and was thus evolved. religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/12/religious-belief-is-human-nature-huge-new-study-claims/
www.amazon.com/Faith-Instinct-Religion-Evolved-Endures/dp/B003B3NVZY
(PsychoChomp, Thu 28 Feb 2013, 11:57, Reply)

Problem is everyone has been tainted with religious belief i their lifetime, you'd need a control
the island of non-religion mentioned earlier, to truly investigate this argument.
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Thu 28 Feb 2013, 12:03, Reply)

But the people on the Island would have to never speak to another human?

(PsychoChomp, Thu 28 Feb 2013, 12:06, Reply)

exactly, they are separated away from the rest of humanity and it's religious pressures and history
this would probably have to be more of a thought experiment than one that could be implemented
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Thu 28 Feb 2013, 12:10, Reply)

You're proposing an untestable theory?
How VERY SCIENTIFIC
(PsychoChomp, Thu 28 Feb 2013, 12:15, Reply)

well it could be done, but it'd be a pain
in the same way it was a pain to build the LHC.

I don't have the funds at the moment to run this I'm afraid.
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Thu 28 Feb 2013, 12:18, Reply)

Just kidnap a load of kids from the local primary school.

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Thu 28 Feb 2013, 12:21, Reply)