Is religion the most basic codification of natural law?

[Fragony]

Spawnend from other thread, kinda curious how you feel about it. Fact, religion has been a factor in every organiseded society, other fact, the themes are similar everywhere. When civilizations became increasingly more complex so became the role of religion.

[Kadagar_AV]

Too much censorship on these boards.

[Ronin]

Religion fullfils 2 objectives.

- It offers answers to questions that cannot be answered at a time there was no other way to obtain knowledge, like science.


-It was a form to codify rules of society in a time when there was no police force or army to ensure that the rules where followed....how can you make everyone fly straight? make up a mistical boogey man that will kick your ass and punish you if you break these rules.

i´d say it was the possible codification given the societal conditions back then.....I don´t know if I´d call it "natural" law though.

[Tristuskhan]

I don´t know if I´d call it "natural" law though.

Same issue here, what does "natural law" means?

[rvg]

Religion is also capable of answering the kinds of questions that science will never be able to answer. Questions like "why are we here" and "what is the meaning of life".

[Ronin]

Religion is also capable of answering the kinds of questions that science will never be able to answer. Questions like "why are we here" and "what is the meaning of life".

I can answer those questions too....I can make stuff up with the best of them...

there will always be things we can´t know.....why can´t we have the balls to say "I don´t know"?

[rvg]

I can answer those questions too....I can make stuff up with the best of them...

You think you can, have you given it a serious try? Theologians and philosophers try to answer these questions in a very logical and thoughtful manner, they most certainly do not luck the answers out of thin air.

[Ja'chyra]

How does religion codify survival of the fittest?

[Fragony]

How does religion codify survival of the fittest?

If it means survival of the group that don't matter.

[Viking]

Spawnend from other thread, kinda curious how you feel about it. Fact, religion has been a factor in every organiseded society, other fact, the themes are similar everywhere. When civilizations became increasingly more complex so became the role of religion.

I wonder if it's not a cultural thing. In modern society, people tend to split culture and religion apart; but I wonder how correct that is. That religions are found everywhere doesn't necessarily mean that it's coded genetically; why is not just a part of the local culture? In earlier times, say 3000 years back in time and further, there were no such things as world religions; every religion was local and went along with local cultures and norms.

[Fragony]

I wonder if it's not a cultural thing. In modern society, people tend to split culture and religion apart; but I wonder how correct that is. That religions are found everywhere doesn't necessarily mean that it's coded genetically; why is not just a part of the local culture? In earlier times, say 3000 years back in time and further, there were no such things as world religions; every religion was local and went along with local cultures and norms.

Well much much earlier, but when was it ever not there. That is new.

[atheotes]

I wonder if it's not a cultural thing. In modern society, people tend to split culture and religion apart; but I wonder how correct that is. That religions are found everywhere doesn't necessarily mean that it's coded genetically; why is not just a part of the local culture? In earlier times, say 3000 years back in time and further, there were no such things as world religions; every religion was local and went along with local cultures and norms.

hmm... all the so called "pagan" religions seem culturally inclined... meaning based on local customs...
i know from experience Hinduism is based on customs than anything else...

[Viking]

Well much much earlier, but when was it ever not there. That is new.

At some point, they came into existence; and I think it went along with the culture and the norms; who have not always been here either.

hmm... all the so called "pagan" religions seem culturally inclined... meaning based on local customs...
i know from experience Hinduism is based on customs than anything else...

Yes, but I think you will find that all religions are based upon where they originated. Christianity; having judaism as a precursor, a religion with promised land and a chosen people; cannot escape this either. But indeed some religions are more local than others. The "pagan" religions typically originated in a much more "closed" world than today's world religion; a world where the mere notion "world" would be meaningless. Religions necessarily (you can go and have a look for yourself if the thunder god Thor actually is up there with his hammer) always reflect the society they exist in; take scientology for instance.

[Fragony]

At some point, they came into existence; and I think it went along with the culture and the norms; who have not always been here either.

Well yes and neither has religion, but what would you consider to be the area of greatest consistancy. The rise of culture or the rise of religion within culture.

[Viking]

Well yes and neither has religion, but what would you consider to be the area of greatest consistancy. The rise of culture or the rise of religion within culture.

Religion sort of requires a cultural sense, so one would guess that religions would develop inside cultures and become an integrated parts of them.

[KrooK]

Not at all Fraggony
Something we call "law of nature" is not the same for everyone. Every society has his own "law of nature". Some of there "laws" are similar, some "not".

For example according to Christians every people are equal in face of God and all of them have same opportunity for Heaven. Thats why attacking other people is bad (attack happen but are generally bad).
According to muslims - God love some people more than other. Thats why allah must conquer the world.
According to Jews - God love Jews much more than other. Like previous.

Religion generally sums up most important things for nation or for faithful's. For some cultures life is most important, for other not (like Samurai).

[AlexanderSextus]

-It was a form to codify rules of society in a time when there was no police force or army to ensure that the rules where followed....how can you make everyone fly straight? make up a mistical boogey man that will kick your ass and punish you if you break these rules.

Exactly. Dont want people to get Trichinosis... Tell them God says: Don't Eat Pork, it's Dirty.

Don't want people to get STD's or get Pregnant in their teens... God says: Dont have sex before marriage and dont have sex with anyone other than your wife. Oh, and dont have anal sex either.

Dont want people to get Cirrhosis? Tell them God says: Dont drink Alcohol...

Get the picture now???


See the problem with these things is that we dont need them anymore. We have condoms and Birth control to help stop pregnancy and STDs

We know how to cook pork correctly in order to kill the trichinea parasite, and we know alcohol can damage you in excess.

God exists, in my opinion, but Religion is Archaic, and there is no way to prove that what they say is the "word of god" is truly the "word of god"