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Do they really need that certainty, or has that been trained into them from an early age?

• jqm 12y ago
  That is a very good question. But it appears religion (even atheist religions) manifests itself in just about every society so it probably is a need of most people to a certain extent. Maybe the answer is to keep inventing better religions. The old ones keep appearing more and more ridiculous and pernicious. I suppose this trial and error produces lots of cults and casualties. Or maybe the answer is for people to grow up and take personal responsibility and truthfully examine what we really know about life and stop trying to hide from reality. That's the path I personally have chosen. But I think the first might be easier on a mass scale. IDK.
  • deleted 12y ago
    [deleted]
• judk 12y ago
  Obviously very hard to test. But no one is told they need certainty. And a lot of people get existential angst -- a topic discussed on HN at length. And we clearly have a strong need for social belonging, most of us. Spiritual experience is scientifically measurable brain activity. People enjoy it.
  • gress 12y ago
    People are not told they need certainty, but they are subject to a great deal of emotional violence to get them to conform to systems. You bring up the topic of social belonging - being ostracized is the primary form of shaming that is used. Having been wounded in this way, people seek any path out of their suffering. Spiritual experience is observable in the brain, but it is certainly not understood, nor are the mechanisms. This is equally true of psychedelic experiences caused by drugs.