Religion

There are over 6 billion people on the planet - but why are the majority of them religious? Where has religion come from? Was there a point in our past when we were not religious?

Religion is a fascinating topic and certainly has a wealth of history. Most of us are religious often following in our parents religious beliefs.

There about two dozen major religions being practised around the globe. And each follower believes their religion is “the one”. Obviously most people know very little about other religions; an often little about their own. But having been brought up in a pre-defined belief system which often suggests dire consequences for considering an alternative, people follow suit.

I want to consider where religion may have come from, and why we need it.

There are two points which will form the foundation of this supposition.

1. Firstly, the historical mortality rates; as recent as a hundred years ago the average human life-span in the western world was around 35 years old! It’s quite shocking – that means that I would be in my golden years. This also means my parents would have passed away during my teens or early 20’s.
2. Secondly, many of us grew up in a nuclear family, nothing to do with radioactivity but a unit consisting of a Mum and a Dad. This has been the case for many, many, thousands of years.

Our parents looked after us, fed us, protected us, and helped us with the various challenges life threw at us. When we hurt ourselves we would call out to them, knowing they would make everything better.

Unfortunately no one lives forever; most of us will find ourselves, at a point in our lives, where our parents are no longer with us leaving us to fend for ourselves.

With the absence of our parents, we need to fill the void, ideally with someone/something that we can talk to when we are down, call out to when we need help; someone that loves us unequivocally, and someone who knows who we really are.

And the more fleeting the time with our parents (as is the case for people 100’s of years ago), the greater the need to fill the gap. The world seems far scarier to a younger mind.

So, perhaps, religion represents our surrogate parents? Providing us with a “virtual” family unit within which we can “feel” the same as we did? Perhaps it is this reason why people protect their religion so vigorously. After all, it is natural to protect your family.