Hypothetically..

[Bond]

Couldn't the explanation of how polytheistic religions came about, and their purposes, be used to explain the monotheistic ones?

For example..Ancient Egyptian religion

My theory/belief is that people didn't know that the sun was a giant star and needed some sort of explanation for it. It's more comforting knowing that the sun is a god rather than some bright ball in the sky..isn't it?

They also wanted explanations for why things happened - so more gods where created and so where ways to please them(like sacrificing a goat so that during harvest season the god would grant a good harvest..just a random example).

[Zenith Darksea]

It's more comforting knowing that the sun is a god rather than some bright ball in the sky..isn't it?

But what's so threatening about a 'bright ball in the sky'? A more likely explanation, I think, was that people saw that the growth of plants etc. was dependent on the availability of sunlight and that they assumed that the whims of the Sun were somehow involved.

However, I don't think that the same thinking can be applied to the Judaeo-Christian monotheistic religions. God as perceived in Judaism and Christianity (and Islam as well, I think, though I am not a great expert on it) is actually viewed apart from natural phenomena; rather than associating the Sun with God, Judaeo-Christian religion has quite a firm dividing line between God and the material world, asserting God's transcendence and immateriality. God would explain the existence of the Sun and the plants, but God would not specifically be used as an explanation for why the Sun and the plants interact in the way that they do.

[Irishman]

Ultimately yes, I believe they came out of the same place. Ignorance and imagination caused most animist and theistic beliefs. Also the fear of death, and the desire not to die.

[Zenith Darksea]

Also the fear of death, and the desire not to die.

An interesting point. How would you view religions such as Christianity and Islam that encourage people to die? Many Orthodox Christians (for example; there are others too) down the ages (and some very recently indeed) have been inspired by their religion to choose death over renunciation of their theistic beliefs? You could also think of the example of monks, who, while not specifically encouraged to literally die, are nonetheless encouraged to die to worldly pleasures. How does one account for this if they are motivated by a fear of death?

[wilting]

How does one account for this if they are motivated by a fear of death?

Because religion (belief in an afterlife) alleviates the fear of death. That's the point! The concept of the afterlife is a response to the fear of death. Your example shows how this is a harmful belief; it encourages people to 'choose death' as you put it. The most extreme example of why this is a dangerious belief is not suicide bombers, but apocalypse cults. Especially those centered around the book of revelation which seem to be capturing the imagination of many Americans. Which, powerful as the US is, I find terrifying. This belief not only cause human great human suffering it is a threat to the very survival of our species.

EDIT: Note that in order to prevent people from making the logical leap that 'if the afterlife is so good, then why bother with real life?' religions must resort to declaring suicide a 'sin'.

[Seda]

Especially those centered around the book of revelation which seem to be capturing the imagination of many Americans. Which, powerful as the US is, I find terrifying. This belief not only cause human great human suffering it is a threat to the very survival of our species.

Um, What? I'm sorry, but what exactly are you terrified of the U.S doing because of revelation? The whole idea of the apocalypse is that god brings it, not man, and that's only assuming that the book was meant to be interpreted as predictions of the future rather than simply encoded to escape the wrath of Nero.

[Centurion-Lucius-Vorenus]

An interesting point. How would you view religions such as Christianity and Islam that encourage people to die?

A Christian death is not really a death, it's a change of address. If you believe that after you'll die you'll live on, then you never truly died in the first place.

[Pontifex Maximus]

Couldn't the explanation of how polytheistic religions came about, and their purposes, be used to explain the monotheistic ones?

For example..Ancient Egyptian religion

My theory/belief is that people didn't know that the sun was a giant star and needed some sort of explanation for it. It's more comforting knowing that the sun is a god rather than some bright ball in the sky..isn't it?

They also wanted explanations for why things happened - so more gods where created and so where ways to please them(like sacrificing a goat so that during harvest season the god would grant a good harvest..just a random example).

I think you are right.


@ Zenith, Christianity DOES NOT encourage people to die. Not at all.

[Irishman]

An interesting point. How would you view religions such as Christianity and Islam that encourage people to die? Many Orthodox Christians (for example; there are others too) down the ages (and some very recently indeed) have been inspired by their religion to choose death over renunciation of their theistic beliefs? You could also think of the example of monks, who, while not specifically encouraged to literally die, are nonetheless encouraged to die to worldly pleasures. How does one account for this if they are motivated by a fear of death?

The idea of heaven was created to alleviate the fear of dying. In these people's minds they are not really dying, just going to be with God. On another note, this same belief has been the rationale for quite a few murders over the years.

[Zenith Darksea]

@ Zenith, Christianity DOES NOT encourage people to die. Not at all.

It does not encourage people to take their own life, but it does encourage people to die to earthly passions and, where forced, to willingly accept death in martyrdom. The second century Christian writer Tertullian stated that, "The blood of martyrs is the seed of Christians."

Because religion (belief in an afterlife) alleviates the fear of death.

It does that, but then there is still a difference between alleviating fear of death and actually driving people to choose death in circumstances where they could back down. Indeed, Christianity makes a counter claim that it is often (though not always) fear of death that drives people away from religion - while a Christian must meditate on death frequently, those who wish to get away from the reality of it spend their time trying to occupy themselves with other thoughts, trying to ignore what is to come.

On another note, this same belief has been the rationale for quite a few murders over the years.

It's also been the rationale for incredibly noble self-sacrifices over the years, but don't feel that you need to mention that fact in the same context or anything.

[Ultraman]

It does that, but then there is still a difference between alleviating fear of death and actually driving people to choose death in circumstances where they could back down. Indeed, Christianity makes a counter claim that it is often (though not always) fear of death that drives people away from religion - while a Christian must meditate on death frequently, those who wish to get away from the reality of it spend their time trying to occupy themselves with other thoughts, trying to ignore what is to come.

It's also been the rationale for incredibly noble self-sacrifices over the years, but don't feel that you need to mention that fact in the same context or anything.

I'm not sure I get your point. The point that was made before was that religion, or in this specific case Christianity, helps alleviate fear of death (or is meant to). For those who truly believe (a minority, imho), dying instead of backing down isn't a bad thing, since the reward comes afterward. I wouldn't be at all surprised if a majority of people just back down, which is what makes the few who don't heroes.

But how does their faith 'drive' them to death? They're not committing suicide, unless you're saying their choice to uphold their beliefs is tantamount to accepting their demise and that doing so is no different from slitting their own wrists.

[Zenith Darksea]

I just answered that point. Read the above post.

[KingOfTheIsles]

When religions promise rewards for martyrdom, like the infamous 99 virgins suicide bomber pact, it both alleviates peoples' fear of death and encourages them to die for their faith. That's perhaps one of the reasons behind the enormously successful spread of Islam and Christianity; they encourage believers to be faithful to the point of giving up their own lives for their religion. Suddenly the armies become that much more fanatical, and the preachers that much more persuasive.

Indeed, Christianity makes a counter claim that it is often (though not always) fear of death that drives people away from religion - while a Christian must meditate on death frequently, those who wish to get away from the reality of it spend their time trying to occupy themselves with other thoughts, trying to ignore what is to come.

I would agree with that to a point. However, I don't think one side is running from death, both are trying to take the fear away from death. Hedonists are trying to forget it, the religious are trying to nullify the fear. It is a similar theme with reincarnation, it's human nature to either deny the extinction of existence or to try and avoid considering the possibility.

[Irishman]

Zenith, the promise of life after death, and paradise as a reward for sacrifice is the reason some are willing to die for their belief.

[chriscase]

Zenith, the promise of life after death, and paradise as a reward for sacrifice is the reason some are willing to die for their belief.

Unfortunately, we don't get to ask them whether they still feel the same way once the deal is done. Hell, I might even buy it if it came with a "No Lemon" guarantee...

Ok, probably not.

[Zenith Darksea]

But how does their faith 'drive' them to death?

Well, you could give the example of some of the Roman persecutions. Trajan outlined the policy (for instance) that a person suspected of being a Christian should be given the choice of saying a prayer to the Roman gods or being executed. Many chose execution.

[Ultraman]

Well, you could give the example of some of the Roman persecutions. Trajan outlined the policy (for instance) that a person suspected of being a Christian should be given the choice of saying a prayer to the Roman gods or being executed. Many chose execution.

Yeah, but they didn't 'choose' to be given that choice. They were just given the option of giving up their beliefs or not and they chose not to, believing they were right in doing so. That doesn't make their faith 'death driven,' it just makes them deeply convicted.

If they were given the option of giving up their god(s) or being spanked, and chose the latter, does that mean their faith encourages them to get spanked? I mean, nothing in their faith told them to go die. Or get spanked.

[Ruin]

It does that, but then there is still a difference between alleviating fear of death and actually driving people to choose death in circumstances where they could back down.

No one that I can see was claiming this. The claim was that it made death less frightening and doomful by creating a continuation (a happier, forgiven one at that) beyond death, so making people more comfortable with the concept of dying.

Indeed, Christianity makes a counter claim that it is often (though not always) fear of death that drives people away from religion - while a Christian must meditate on death frequently, those who wish to get away from the reality of it spend their time trying to occupy themselves with other thoughts, trying to ignore what is to come.

This is only an issue for sinners, and lets face it, Christians have as much a record of this as Atheists (from paedophilic catholic priests to shotgunning abortionists).
For those of sense and morality, equal in that to Christians yet not of the faith, they have nothing to fear of hell or purgatory, so it is not an issue, making the whole point meaningless.

[Zenith Darksea]

Yeah, but they didn't 'choose' to be given that choice.

That's not really the point I was making though. The point was that when having to choose between life without faith and death with faith, they chose the latter, since faith is valued more highly than life.

[Ultraman]

Or, in their minds, faith promised eternal life. There is no 'death' in the mind of the devoutly faithful, only transition.