Would religion be a "thing" if humans didn't evolve to the point of being capable of such existential thoughts, like their purpose or meaning?
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Would religion be a "thing" if humans didn't evolve to the point of being capable of such existential thoughts, like their purpose or meaning?
Interesting question. One I would like to answer with a hypothetical..
If something happened tomorrow and all religious texts, icons and memory disappeared, what would happen? I believe that as a social species, religion was/is inevitable. Large groups need hope or something to believe in. Religion would not look the same as it does now, but with thought and consciousness, a belief system will always appear...
Appreciate the great response! Although considering all other species, it seems that us humans, the only species with such a developed awareness, are the only ones that really care about why we're here. Do you think that the animals that do not understand the concept of a religion/belief system will go to hell if they don't follow our invented moral codes? Or is heaven (or any other pleasant afterlife experience) reserved only for humans?
Animal psychology is still too primitive for them to question existence, but among certain 'higher' species like apes and dolphins, we can already see a developing social structure as far as some 'leaders' are more or less authoritarian. There are also superstitions emerging amongst some troops which leads me to believe that with enough time, other social species will develop religion.
With that said, what is heaven? Is it just a utopian dream that we as humans created? If not, then why would only humans be allowed?