| |
 |
|
|
Science Forum Index » Anthropology Forum » Origins of Religion
Page 1 of 1
|
| Author |
Message |
| Martin Phipps |
 Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2003 9:42 pm |
|
|
|
Guest
|
I keep posting here because the responses give me something to think
about. I can understnad why anthropologists would not use the word
"civilization" because it is a bit judgemental to declare some people
"civilized" and other people "uncivilized".
Anyway, I was wondering if there was any possible connection between
the different old world religions all having pantheons of Gods, namely
the old Norse, Greek, Egyptian and Hindu religions. Did these
religions all arise completely independent of each other or could it
be that the idea of Gods appearing in the form of men and women and
walking amongst us is? No, I'm not suggesting that the Gods were
aliens or that the Neanderthals were revered as Gods by the Cro
Magnons (although the latter idea sounds almost plausible), just
wondering how likely it is that people developing their cultures in
relatively close proximity to each other would all come up with the
same basic idea completely independently of each other?
For that matter, what sort of language was Ancient Egyptian,
grammatically I mean? Was it an Indo-European language? My
understanding is that the Ancient Egyptians were not Arabs, that the
Arabs were traditionally people who wandered the desert and that the
Arabs came to Egypt when the desert overtook that country and the
country was no longer suitable for agriculture. Is that right? I
would imagine that the people of Egypt today are probably a mix of
Arab and Ancient Egyptian ancestry with a little bit of Greek and
Roman. I just find it difficult to imagine this not being the case.
I suppose this article here
http://www.armenianhighland.com/homeland/chronicle120.html is
relevant. It says that the Indo-European "protolanguage originated
more than 6,000 years ago in eastern Anatolia". What do we know about
the culture and religion of these people, other than the idea that
they probably were farmers? Is it reasonable to assume that if they
had agriculture than they had some sort of religion because people who
plant crops inevitably find themselves parying for rain? And I'm
wondering if 6,000 years ago predates the earliest settlements in
Egypt. Did the Egyptians develop agriculture independently of the
Indo-Europeans or did the Indo-Europeans introduce agriculture (and
language and religion) to the Egyptians? I'm not sure of the time
frame here. I did a google search for "Indo European Languages" and I
found a lot of interesting material but nothing that answered any of
these questions.
I think I can find the answer to some of my questions by continuing to
do web searches but I am curious to see what people on this group have
to say.
Martin |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| Tedd |
| Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2003 10:20 pm |
|
|
|
Guest
|
"Martin Phipps" <phippsmartin@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:df8f4cb4.0310311842.5eabee80@posting.google.com...
[trimmed for length]
Quote: Anyway, I was wondering if there was any possible connection between
the different old world religions all having pantheons of Gods, namely
the old Norse, Greek, Egyptian and Hindu religions. Did these
religions all arise completely independent of each other or could it
be that the idea of Gods appearing in the form of men and women and
walking amongst us is? No, I'm not suggesting that the Gods were
aliens or that the Neanderthals were revered as Gods by the Cro
Magnons (although the latter idea sounds almost plausible), just
wondering how likely it is that people developing their cultures in
relatively close proximity to each other would all come up with the
same basic idea completely independently of each other?
*one* opinion is that religion arose out of a need to "explain" or "understand"
our surroundings. in this aspect, religion could be construed as the beginnings
of science. "why does the rain fall? why does the sun come up? what makes the
ground shake? what causes sickness?" this could be explored at great length on
it's own.
other ideas say that it arose out of a need to "organize". not just thoughts or
ideas about the natural and unatural worlds, but people as well, creating a
"unifying ideology" that bounds people together. some say early cultures would
center around practices of common or mutual beliefs, making a foundation upon
which complexity could later develope.
and then there is religion itself,... because "God created the heavens and the
earth,... man in his image,...", making it self explainitory. (with all due
respect, hoping not to offend any of the religious minded here. and by all means
correct me where i am wrong.)
as for them developing entirely independant of each other, depending on your
perspective, it could be argued that "religion" did not develope independantly
so much as the need to "explain" "understand" "organize" (etc.) developed within
our species ('curiosity' for lack of a better analogy), with simular "effects"
(explinations via religion) to the same "cause" (curiosities about the natural
world). where ever there is contact between neighboring groups there is going to
be cultural exchange just like there is material exchange (trade).
(that may be a bit rough around the edges for trying to explain it, i hope you
it comes across okay.)
(i'm no help to you on the language questions, sorry)
Quote: I think I can find the answer to some of my questions by continuing to
do web searches but I am curious to see what people on this group have
to say.
personally, i like your questions martin, they make me think. and i also am
interested to see how other people respond.  |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| |
|
Page 1 of 1
All times are GMT - 5 Hours
The time now is Thu Jul 24, 2008 11:21 pm
|
|
