Naïve children believe in Santa Claus; the Israelites of biblical times believed that breeding animals in front of striped sticks produced striped offspring (Genesis 30:38-42); there are a couple of communities in Vanuatu who worshiped the late Prince Philip as a living god; there are people who are certain that there are minute alien lifeforms in Covid vaccines. People have always believed all kinds of really stupid shit, and we're all prone to fall into the trap of allowing our wishful thinking to delude us.
I'm pretty sure there have been (and may well still be) religions which held that we are, in fact, living in hell right now. That's a pretty grim doctrine, so it wouldn't appeal to many. On the other hand, holding the threat of hell over the heads of people is a damn fine way of keeping them in line.
Cultural Anthropology is on your side of the argument, Booj. I’ve tried talking to Ruthie, but I just get dismissal by negation. Sadly, she seems happy about it.
Is it normal to believe everyone will be tortured in the afterlife forever?
← View full post
Why would anyone expect there to be anything after this life?
--
Grunewald
1 year ago
|
pl
Comment Hidden (
show
)
Report
1
1
-
donteatstuffoffthesidewalk
1 year ago
|
pl
Comment Hidden (
show
)
Report
0
0
Why wouldn't they? Most civilizations do.
--
Boojum
1 year ago
|
pl
Comment Hidden (
show
)
Report
0
0
Naïve children believe in Santa Claus; the Israelites of biblical times believed that breeding animals in front of striped sticks produced striped offspring (Genesis 30:38-42); there are a couple of communities in Vanuatu who worshiped the late Prince Philip as a living god; there are people who are certain that there are minute alien lifeforms in Covid vaccines. People have always believed all kinds of really stupid shit, and we're all prone to fall into the trap of allowing our wishful thinking to delude us.
maybe the petty absurdity of this life is payment for petty misdeeds of a past life
--
Boojum
1 year ago
|
pl
Comment Hidden (
show
)
Report
0
0
That makes just as much sense.
I'm pretty sure there have been (and may well still be) religions which held that we are, in fact, living in hell right now. That's a pretty grim doctrine, so it wouldn't appeal to many. On the other hand, holding the threat of hell over the heads of people is a damn fine way of keeping them in line.
--
dude_Jones
1 year ago
|
pl
Comment Hidden (
show
)
Report
0
0
Cultural Anthropology is on your side of the argument, Booj. I’ve tried talking to Ruthie, but I just get dismissal by negation. Sadly, she seems happy about it.