Posted: Mar 18, 2010 5:24 am
endless psych wrote:The use of "some people" is something I dispute - everyone believes in "something" there are just scales of belief and disbelief and different categories. People who don't hold theist beliefs probably still prescribe to one of the following: a political ideology;moral and ethical code;believe their team/fans of their sporting team to be the best in the world; consider themselves patriotic or nationalistic/knock on wood etc etc...
I used "some people" to be careful. Last time I said "people" I was shot down for including the whole population. I was trying to be politically correct but I am happy to say everyone is included.
There are categories and scales of superstitious belief - it's not a "need" as such rather something that happens.
I disagree. To me, it appears to be a built-in need that happens. I am trying to find out how this need benefits us. What part does it play in our survival. It can't just be something that happens. It must have evolved for a reason. Or not?
Although in the case of organised religion a good case can be made that they play on peoples needs to be part of a group or socially connected to likeminded folks and use that to their advantage.
Perhaps humans have to be lead by someone "stronger and wiser" otherwise we flounder aimlessly. Religion is maybe a nasty by-product.
But I doubt there is anything particularly special about any given belief or subset of believers psychologically.
There is nothing special about any belief system per se. They are all made up by humans to satisfy the minds of other humans.