Is religion an intellectual virus?

[mibn2cweus]

Following on from Wyzard's previous question, "Man. The Religious Animal." - http://www.theanswerb...y/Question964570.html

Is religion an essential component of our evolutionary intellectual development, just as viruses, by challenging our immune system, strengthen it and thereby contribute to the survival potential of the species they infect?

[Count-A-Strong]

No it's a means by which the minority can supplicate the masses.

[mibn2cweus]

"No it's a means by which the minority can supplicate the masses."

The immune system isn't always up to the challange . . . is it?

[Count-A-Strong]

Nah, you've lost me now.

[mibn2cweus]

In the wake of being exposed to (religious) dogma we succumb to the assertions we are unable to refute. Religion takes advantage of and thrives on human ignorance.

[Count-A-Strong]

And possibly survives on the fact that the majority of humans don't like to lead and are far happier having someone in 'authority' telling them what to do.

[mibn2cweus]

. . . and to be their mindless foot soldiers, further spreading the virus.

[Count-A-Strong]

It would seem we agree (which doesn't make for a very interesting debate)

[mibn2cweus]

Oh well . . . ;o)

[wildwood]

// Is Religion An Intellectual Virus? //

Yes it is very similar. Not so many years ago virtually every human on this planet believed in some sort of deity and not to do so would probably mean banishment or worse. As we evolved in intelligence, it was unavoidable that we would eventually start questioning these unsubstantiated beliefs, thus, some became immune to this dogma. The anti-viral agent is known as reality.

[naomi24]

No, I don't believe religion is an essential component of our evolutionary intellectual development. Rather it's positively detrimental to our progress both intellectually and physically. Sadly, exposure to infectious bacteria causes human beings, especially those with low resistance, to succumb very easily to disease.

[Theland1]

What we have now are the masses following blindly those leaders who are the scientists. Therefore only the priveleged elite can even begin to understand the quantum mathematics associated with their all too often vague concepts.
For example, what the hell is a, "Virtual Vacuum?" (Stephen Hawking I think.)

[beso]

Science does not lead through blind faith. A multitude of highly educated scientists dissects every and only the most robust theories endure this process.

Others can choose to educate themselves or accept the process of verification. In religion the faithful must choose accept the doctrine and ignore the physical evidence. It is a case of "none so blind as those who will not see".

I do not consider myself as coming from an intellectual elite yet I understand enough of Quantum Mechanics and Relativity to have a good working knowledge of its implications.

The concepts are not vague at all but rigorously described both qualitatively and quantitatively.

Quantum Mechanics is the most successful theory ever postulated in the physical sciences. Its predictions have invariably been shown to correctly describe all observations and is pivotal in our most advanced technologies. The machine you sit in front of and type your posts is hard evidence of the truth of Quantum Mechanics.

I have never encountered a discussion of a "virtual vacuum". The only results on Google is for an article discussing "virtual vacuum polarizations". In this case the it refers to the virtual polarization of the vacuum rather than a virtual vacuum per se.

Clearly you have made no effort to understand anything about these sciences. Hardly surprising. You would not want reality to pollute your cherished myths.

[Theland1]

That's unfair Beso. I have tried to understand and accept much of it, but cannot abide the apparent certainty the one day the scientists will answer the question of something from nothing with no pre conditions.

[beso]

As I have tried to explain here before, ultimately the answer will come down to a single precondition. The lowest possible state of energy and order.

An infinite expanse of complete randomness includes areas where order prevails. Complete disorder is not in a truly random system and requires energy to break up the spontaneously ordered regions.

Reality is the consequence of it own attempt to not exist.

[jake-the-peg]

Couple of points . I may be wrong but I don't think viruses strengthen us long term.

When we evolve defenses against viruses I rather suspect we often do so at the expense of other previous viruses, now extinct.

It's more of a billion years of cat and mouse between the cell and viruses.

However in the other aspect that a virus cannot reproduce itself and passes itself on through hosts then yes it is but then so is Science and in fact all ideas.

This is of course very similar to Richard Dawkins' "meme" concept.

[beso]

There is much more to the relationship between host and virus than struggle and conflict. Retroviruses combine with the host DNA and persist there.

Virus DNA is an important source of new code and an integral part of every organism. At least ten percent of our own DNA was originally acquired from viruses. Indeed the mammalian placenta is based on what was originally viral DNA.

The religion virus is just the same. It is part of our social fabric. Unfortunately that aspect allows us to be exploited by the unscrupulous who turn it to their advantage.

[mibn2cweus]

"No, I don't believe religion is an essential component of our evolutionary intellectual development. Rather it's positively detrimental to our progress both intellectually and physically. Sadly, exposure to infectious bacteria causes human beings, especially those with low resistance, to succumb very easily to disease."

Naomi, That’s my point. If we are not properly immunized from infection or do not already harbour the necessary antibodies, then we are not intellectually equipped to defend ourselves from the onslaught of religious or a host of other potentially virulent strains that threaten our survival as rational beings. The bonus is that in learning to reason affectively we are provided with the means to navigate this otherwise mysterious and perplexing world we live in. This is not to say that when it comes to choosing the time to learn the process, an ounce of prevention isn’t worth a pound of cure, which to my good fortune, I was eventually, after an arduous battle with the disease, able to acquire the necessary intellectual healing albeit with some rather deep accompanying scars. It is for that reason I am a big proponent of immunization before the fact. I hate to think of others having to go through what I had to and to suffer needlessly and perhaps irreparably.

[mibn2cweus]

Beso, Thank you for your input in this discussion. The possibility that viruses may have played a pivotal, key role in our evolution is quite fascinating.

[whiskeryron]

Is it at all possible that the cosmos is teeming with an unknown breed of parasitic virus that infects all humans at birth,let's call it the intelligent virus,& throughout life it continues to give us the edge on all other living things so that we are supreme in intelligence, & of course when we die what we call the soul or spirit leaves our body & seeks another host.
(I cannot produce evidence that I am sane because I do not have a certificate to prove it.)

[mibn2cweus]

Interesting hypothesis Whiskeryron. There are times when my intelligence seems to have been predominantly relegated to my jeans . . . at least long enough for me to remove them and make an utter fool of myself. ;o)