Evolution of the Religious virus or is it Global tribalismI would first ask Christians to read a few Creation Myths from around the world; Babylonian, Korean, Navajo, Norse, Japanese, Comanche, Chinese, Chelan, Pima, Mayan, Miwok, Scandinavian (Norse), Salish, Australian Aboriginal Hopi, Tahitian, Yokut, Comanche, Egyptian, African - Mande, Yoruba, Micmac, Lakota, India, Romanian, Mongol, Chinese Creation / Flood Myth, Assyrian / Babylonian, Maori, Aztec, Digueno, Apache, Dakota, Hungarian, Iroquois, Inuit, Huron, Hawaiian, Can a Christian demonstrate or provide empirical proof that these myths are less valid than their stories and myths.
So why should anyone (other than Jews or Christians of course) believe the Jewish/Christian creation myth, (told by some goat herders in the Middle East a few millennia ago) to any greater extent than those listed above. One of the answers to this question lies in the nature of Christianity it is fundamentally a huge business where the greater the congregation the greater the money it generates and the greater the power it has in spiritual and political matters.
. Today’s Christianity is made up of a multitude of different sects and branches with splinter groups splitting off almost daily, coupled with Christianity’s ability to absorb parts of other religions, cultures and traditions and make them its own. It adapts and changes to suit local conditions and histories. It pretends to speak with one voice and at the same time blames different factions for atrocities committed in the name of their god, its many schisms and divisions have spread throughout the world each claiming to be the sole custodian of truth. Christianity can’t even agree on its own holy book the Bible,
The Bible is the central religious text of Judaism and Christianity. The exact composition of the Bible is dependent on the religious traditions of specific denominations. Modern Judaism generally recognizes a single set of canonical books known as the Tanakh, It comprises three parts: the Torah ("Teaching", also known as the Pentateuch or "Five Books of Moses"), the Prophets, and the Writings. It was primarily written in Hebrew with some small portions in Aramaic.
The Christian Bible includes the same books as the Tanakh (referred to in this context as the Old Testament), but usually in a different order, together with twenty-seven specifically Christian books collectively known as the New Testament. Those were originally written in Greek. Among some traditions, the Bible includes books that were not accepted in other traditions, often referred to as apocryphal. Eastern Orthodox Churches use all of the books that were incorporated into the Septuagint, to which they add the earliest Greek translation of the Deuterocanonicals; Roman Catholics include seven of these books in their canon; and many Protestant Bibles follow the modern Jewish canon, excluding the additional books. Some editions of the Christian Bible have a separate Biblical apocrypha section for books not considered canonical.
Many Christians, regard the Bible as inspired by God yet written by a variety of men from different countries and traditions over thousands of years. Many others regard both the New and Old Testament as the undiluted Word of God, spoken by God and written down in its perfect form by humans. Still others hold the Bible as infallible.
Then you have the modern day religions ranging from Joseph Smith and his Latter Day Saints Movement and their holy book of Mormon. Mr Smith claimed to have direct instructions and revelations from God, so why did he have to set up his very own religion to get his message out. The answer is short ‘belief’.
Jehovah's Witnesses founded by Charles Taze Russell. Consider the Bible as the supreme authority for their teachings and practices, but diverge greatly from traditional Christian theology, which has caused several major Christian denominations to denounce the group as either a cult or heretical sect. Medical ethicists have criticized Jehovah's Witnesses as an authoritarian group for coercing members to reject blood transfusions. Former adherents have claimed that the religion demands unquestioning obedience from members, with the consequence of expulsion and shunning facing any who act in disagreement with its doctrines. Of course this is mirrored in the Orthodox catholic Churches where excommunication is used as a threat to keep wayward adherents in line. Indeed the threat of being excluded from any group is a very powerful incentive, after all human beings are a social animal with a psychological need to be with likeminded and kindred people.
In recent years there has been an explosion of ‘New Age Religions’ sects and cults all with their own claims of what is truth. Some are disillusioned with the ‘mainstream’ religions taking their teachings from Eastern religions, aboriginal mythologies fitting them around their own interpretations. Some use hallucinogenic substances (Shamanism) some use Paganism and the Occult for their inspiration. All seek out like new disciples to reinforce their own beliefs. The Christian Watchtower Fellowship monitors the activities of over a thousand of these groups and exactly like the Watch Tower Fellowship they all claim to be the custodians of truth and enlightenment. Part of the response to this, is; in today’s more secular democracies; you can’t use the old method of sending out a crusading army to slaughter the unbeliever or heretics. The use of modern technologies in getting your message and propaganda out and being adaptive to modern advertising techniques is far more efficient. Political lobbying and support for political parties and candidates is also used to great advantage.
So which one of the multitude of religions has a connection with a God ? Which is the True religion? Which one is the next to become extinct? And most important which one will be the one doing the killing? Do you just pick one at random and hope for the best. Do you take up the one that your parents follow and hope they got it right. They can’t all be right, but they all claim to be the only true religion and that their god(s) is/are the true god(s), that their creation stories are true. Every one of these religions have their very own devotees that claim a personal relationship with god, Most have leaders that claim to be gods spokesperson some have devotees that claim they are gods special servant. Some leaders took it a bit further and claimed to be Gods. They all base their ‘faith’ on a threat and a promise (albeit after you die). Most have fanatical devotees that are prepared to die for their faith others are prepared to kill anyone of a different faith.
As for teaching our children the biblical creation story as fact only demonstrates the churches fear of free thought, limiting their followers to the very narrow confines of a book that is not so far from the Neolithic. Religions arguments against scientific theories or ideas are ultimately self defeating, limiting their almighty gods to simplistic easily digested stories, you would think that any religion worth its salt would grasp scientific advancements and claim them as their own god’s handiwork. Of course this is exactly what some religions do however it generally requires a lot of bloodletting, infighting and schisms before they become accepted, but very seldom universally.
Does it all adds up to tribalism on a global scale, and the survival of the most ruthless, brutal, dictatorial, oppressive, and richest truth be damned religion. Or is
Religion is like a virus, you can’t reason with it, it mutates over time and absorbs its host. All you can hope for is that one day we will find a cure.