Fanman wrote: ↑March 8th, 2018, 5:36 pm
Spectrum:
Whatever things you can linked to religions and theism they are at most secondary to the existential crisis factor.
There cannot be theistic religions without a deity, we know this a priori. Therefore it follows that “God” is
the essential element for the existence of theistic religions. With or without the including the factor of existential crisis, I think that people would still believe in God, because there are
other reasons why people believe in God. Whether people's reasons for belief are “primary” or “secondary” (a distinction I don't believe exists) is not so important IMV, because the result of belief is the same – reverence of a deity and adherence to a religious ideology.
You seem to think that if the factor existential crisis is removed from the equation of belief, theism will eventually disappear, but if there are other reasons for believing in God, those other reasons will cause people to believe in God regardless of whether there is existential crisis or not. In order to weaken the grounds of religion, we'd have to be able to demonstrate that
every reason for belief in God is not valid, but because it cannot be proven beyond doubt that God doesn't exist – that task is... Problematic.
I don't see a reason
why existential crisis is a “deeper-rooted” cause for belief in God than any other reason for belief, how would you measure “specific psychological depth”, so as to certainly claim one reason is "deeper" than another? Unless you can provide valid reasons for why “primary” and “secondary” reasons for belief exist, I think that you may be postulating an invalid stratification.
I believe there are various perspective to consider on this, i.e.
- 1. Mainstream and non-mainstream theistic religions
2. Theistic - God of absolute perfection -ontological God or an empirical-based deity - monkey god.
3. Whether one is born into the religion or converted to the religion.
I assume in this case, most of the theists will have a reasonable average standard of rational and critical thinking, if not now, then some time in the future.
If you review the mainstream non-theistic religions are centered on the idea of an ontological God, i.e. Abrahamic + Hinduism = 5.5/6.5 [appx] billion theists.
It is very noticeable the focus of religion in general on mortality [even non-theistic ones] and for the theistic ones it is the afterlife.
In
all funerals re theistic religions I have attended or heard, the pastor or priest will state the deceased is in heaven [say add - looking down] or in another higher form of entity.
So I can inferred very strongly the main reason 'why theism?' is because of the existential crisis in various forms and degrees of it manifestations.
Note there are various sources of knowledge to support this point.
One critical point is theism provide an immediate relieve for the existential angst for the majority. Believe and viola! one is saved.
Thus I can bet 100% of those who converted into theism in the face of an existential threat [e.g. terminal illness, and the likes] are likely to be due to existential reasons.
It is also understood many are born into the religion.
The point is if they deliberately choose to stay within the theistic religion and have a propensity to stick to or promote it, it is because of their existential impulses.
You may say there is a social reason why people are theists.
The social factor cannot be a critical factor because there are so many avenues for one be a member of a group for social reasons.
There are many religious groups who present a social front where people can join to have fun, games, socializing, etc. but the ulterior motive is to trigger the existential impulse so some members can be serious religious members.
You may say there is a political reason.
It is true there are political elements within Islam, but note the default religions and politics should never be mixed.
In the past many exploited and established theistic religions for political reason, but while the political factor disappeared the religion still remain, e.g. Islam, The protestants of England, etc.
Can you list what other reasons for people to be theist other than for the soteriological-salvation purpose?
In addition give me as estimate rating for each reason.
I would rate the soteriological-salvation purpose at 90% while the others are 10%.
I don't see a reason why existential crisis is a “deeper-rooted” cause for belief in God than any other reason for belief, how would you measure “specific psychological depth”, so as to certainly claim one reason is "deeper" than another? Unless you can provide valid reasons for why “primary” and “secondary” reasons for belief exist, I think that you may be postulating an invalid stratification.
For anything that is related to an existential threat the human system generate the most strongest primal impulse to ensure the person survives.
1. Real Physical threat
I am sure you will know what a drowning person will do instinctually to save him/herself or what anyone under a life threatening situation will do to save oneself. At the point of a critical existential threat, many will be like animals rather than being human.
2. Perceived existential threat
The above relate to real existential threats which will trigger the primal responses, fight or flight, kill or be killed, but a perceived [actually non-existent] existential threat can also trigger the same animal responses. There are many killings by those who wrong perceived an existential threat.
3. Certainty of Mortality
With 1 [real] and 2 [perceived] above the human system will generate to the extreme of primal & animal responses. Now what do you think the dominant
subconscious mind will react when it is aware of the certain 'threat' of 100% mortality when the time is not due yet? This is the starting point of the complexity of the existential crisis that lead the majority to theism to deal with the crisis.
Not-a-theist. Religion is a critical necessity for humanity now, but not the FUTURE.