Finding peace in religion

Submitted by Claire (United States), Jun 27, 2008 at 17:48

Science is showing that some practices associated by many with religion work, but not the way religious people think they do. There is something about setting expectations, whether one thinks a supernatural deity is doing it or not.

Although I don't believe in a patriarchal "god," the male being from the revealed religious myths (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), there is evidence of a force is behind evolution of plants, animals, and thought. The force, however, is natural rather than supernatural. Like gravity, thermodynamics, etc., it's a natural force that might be seen to push or pull, depending on one's perspective.

Practices used by religious groups have been shown to work without any religious belief attached. Phineas Parkhurst Quimby showed that indoctrination is just programming the human mind. Prayer is programming the human mind--not talking to a supernatural deity.

It's an enigma that people fervently believe religious teachings as if they are true. It must have provided some very significant survival value to the species.

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