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Is religion an intellectual virus?
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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?
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?
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Use your noodle . . . http://image44.websho...68037449JkwYfY_ph.jpg
"Back off, godbotherer!" - http://static3.channe...-Noodles-e9012051.jpg
Mibs, blimey! Are things really that desperate? :o)
//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.//
So if, for example, if a child was raised completely devoid of all notion of religion until he was old enough to make his own decisions, I wonder if he would become immune for life? Somehow I think so. In reality religious diversity is just a matter of geographical culture, and that in itself makes it all such a complete nonsense. Hopefully he would understand that and hence never succumb.
//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.//
So if, for example, if a child was raised completely devoid of all notion of religion until he was old enough to make his own decisions, I wonder if he would become immune for life? Somehow I think so. In reality religious diversity is just a matter of geographical culture, and that in itself makes it all such a complete nonsense. Hopefully he would understand that and hence never succumb.
Praise his noodly appendage - http://knowyourmeme.c...onster.jpg?1241373617
Naomi, There are many cultures around the world that having lacked the necessary immunity have quickly fallen victim to religious infection upon exposure, often as a means to procure their own survival and to assuage the violence of the very ones carrying the disease.
The case for the unexposed child actually might bring additional support to the virus analogy. In the case of both religion and viruses, the very young and old alike are particularly vulnerable and often suffer the most severely from exposure. Furthermore, I highly suspect the invulnerability of said child in adulthood would have a strong correlation to how rational he has become.
The case for the unexposed child actually might bring additional support to the virus analogy. In the case of both religion and viruses, the very young and old alike are particularly vulnerable and often suffer the most severely from exposure. Furthermore, I highly suspect the invulnerability of said child in adulthood would have a strong correlation to how rational he has become.
Looks like someone else had a similar idea . . . although it doesn't really support my hypothesis that religion perhaps drives intellectual development (not that I can exactly present myself as supporting evidence either ;o) - http://agnostic.tk/
Oh well, I suppose this thread has run its course and that nows as good a time as any to bring this conjecture to a close . . .
Just as faith is the antithesis of reason, religion is philosophies evil twin.
In understanding that which has brought us from the cave to the penthouse, from the club to the court room, it would seem that the greatest threat to reason is that which poses as reason. Philosophy, the discipline which integrates our knowledge and understanding has throughout the history of our evolution as a potentially rational species been under assault from religion and the belief that the knowledge required for living is not something to be acquired by thinking but is a gift to be groveled for from an invisible overseer of reality. To anyone questioning this assertion, please point me to the philosophy section in AnswerBank.
My pursuit of reason has shown me that judgment day lies not beyond the grave but must be carried out here and now if our species is to survive. I dread finding myself in the shoes of those who have been assured by others that they have the cure when in fact they have allowed themselves to be infected by, are the carriers of, and through their support of religion have aided in the proliferation of and are responsible for the spreading of the disease.
Our bodies have evolved ingenious ways of recognising, coping and dealing with infectious diseases with the potential to cripple and destroy us from the inside out. Perhaps the time has come to return the favour and begin developing similar strategies for minimising the devastating anti-intellectual influence of faith and bringing the enemies of reason under control. If you do not recognise the enemy when you see it perhaps its time to take a long hard look in the mirror.
Just as faith is the antithesis of reason, religion is philosophies evil twin.
In understanding that which has brought us from the cave to the penthouse, from the club to the court room, it would seem that the greatest threat to reason is that which poses as reason. Philosophy, the discipline which integrates our knowledge and understanding has throughout the history of our evolution as a potentially rational species been under assault from religion and the belief that the knowledge required for living is not something to be acquired by thinking but is a gift to be groveled for from an invisible overseer of reality. To anyone questioning this assertion, please point me to the philosophy section in AnswerBank.
My pursuit of reason has shown me that judgment day lies not beyond the grave but must be carried out here and now if our species is to survive. I dread finding myself in the shoes of those who have been assured by others that they have the cure when in fact they have allowed themselves to be infected by, are the carriers of, and through their support of religion have aided in the proliferation of and are responsible for the spreading of the disease.
Our bodies have evolved ingenious ways of recognising, coping and dealing with infectious diseases with the potential to cripple and destroy us from the inside out. Perhaps the time has come to return the favour and begin developing similar strategies for minimising the devastating anti-intellectual influence of faith and bringing the enemies of reason under control. If you do not recognise the enemy when you see it perhaps its time to take a long hard look in the mirror.
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