CopyRight @ 1996
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As with institutions, overall, the best place to start
systematically examining beliefs and mindsets is in the context
of religion. Religion is strictly based on belief and is the
vehicle of the basic beliefs of any society. It is complex enough
that the combination of descriptions of belief and relevant
mindsets, is going to be very limited. The subject of the
components and significance of religious beliefs, would take
books by more than one talented student. This is to touch an some
of the major meanings and consequence of religion so as to create
a framework that is usable by the reader. For example, gross
cases are the consequences of the teaching of Thomas Aquinas or
the concepts of earthly verses heavenly reincarnation. The
teaching of Thomas Aquinas that science would not aid in the
salvation of the soul, helped usher in the dark ages. Considering
the concepts of earthly reincarnation verses heavenly
reincarnation, both of which are supported by basic Christian
tenants, could lead to very different attitudes towards the
natural world. The belief in heavenly afterlife can lead to
disregard for the simply material and expendable, worldly
environment. The belief in earthly reincarnation would foster a
preservationist attitude. Hey, you will be back. Since religions
are basically moral systems, most components have important
meanings. The trick is figuring out the significant parts and
their meanings.
Beliefs related to morality are the most fundamental,
because they are elements of a survival strategy. Ancient tribal
shaman conserved the knowledge that helped preserve the tribe.
Religion is many things, but each one is usually defined by
how they conceive of god. Most are separated by history and some
by basic premises, yet they all have the concepts of
spiritualism. Before there was religion, there was reverence and
many things were understood to be sacred. There was birth and
death, nature, life, fear, hope and marriage long before there
were religions.
Religion is many things, but since the commonest perception
of it focuses on god, that must be the first thing examined.
Descriptions of god are many and are best described as spectrums,
from the Patriarchal one God of Christianity to concepts of the
complete spiritualism of all life and the universe. To others
still, God is the tangible and untangible of Nature and the Earth
that gives them life. Each of these beliefs and their attendant
morality and belief systems, have different consequences for
their followers.
The first art of humans depicts scenes of the natural world.
The earliest sculptured figures were of a fertile female that is
thought to represent the fertility of nature even more than the
fertility of any human. This was religion at its most basic when
it had more to do with direct survival within nature. Fears and
dangers differed then, but hopes remain the same: survival of the
community. Gods nature did not change much for the farmers near the
ancient cities. They were concious of weather and tied to the
land. Things were different for the nomadic pastoralists. Their
ecology made different demands. Their life was based more on
possessions than a location. Their economy led them to raiding
and eventually warfare. Theirs was the Patriarchial God of the
Old Testiment and they made him ascendent. In responce to the
inhumanity of war and as natural developments, the older
instincts of natural growth and fertility grew and were given
words and voice. This is the Christian part of our heritage.
Presently, our common religious heritage forms a large part of
the beliefs of western culture. It is the long slow accumulation
of human tradition and belief encompassing both the ancient
stories of the Old Testiment and the development of Christianity.
It is a powerful hybrid of beliefs that serves a hybrid group of
tough survivors. It has been a primary force to create a common
culture and "community" from many different groups. This was done
both agressively and because the belief system had appeal to both
instinct and logic. Also, it conveyed the power of faith and
rightousness. This is a religion that serves people in a rough
and competitive society that is trying to achieve the cooperation
of the tribal community.
In any case, religion serves humans. It is unlikely to be of
use to any god, except as to how it serves their people.
1.??? weird stuff END 7
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