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The Evolution of Religion |
Religion evolved as a result of our evolution. As humans began to talk and to wonder about our existence and the world we live in, people started to theorize about reality. In the beginning religion was an early attempt at science and to create order in society. Religions evolved into social institutions creating a conglomeration of ritual, science, law, and government.
People didn't always know we live on a planet. They saw the sun and the moon and the stars and wandering stars that we now know are planets. There were storms, thunder and lightning, hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods. There were good years of plenty and bad years of famine and drought. Insects ate crops. People died of mysterious diseases. The world was a vast and mysterious place that created great wonderment and inspired the imagination, and the imagination went wild.
With no scientific information to work with, people imagined that there were Gods that were good and evil and that they were powerful and controlled the universe. The sun and moon were gods. The thunder being brought the rains. Life was everywhere so people concluded that stars and planets and the sun and moon might also be alive. They wondered about beings that live in the clouds. They wondered about what happens to you after you die, or where you were before you were born.
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