My theory regarding the True Origin of religion.

[darwin-is-christ99]

I have to admit, this may not be original in that I am not sure if it has been said before. But I believe Religion started when (bear with me here) Extra terrestrials visited Mankind when Man was at his earliest "form"if you will. These Aliens came in from space in their "ships"; probably researched briefly and left. And so Man thought of these Weird creatures from the sky and believed them to be  gods. That explains why they have been revisiting us for centuries now, to sort of check our civilization N' shit. It is just a theory, but I am probably right.

[Ambassador Pony]

Evidence?

[Anfauglir]

It is just a theory, but I am probably right.

Modest, too!   

I'm with Pony - I'd need to see your evidence before I could comment on the likelihood of your being correct!

[sun_king]

That may not explain the popular Christian belief that "God created us in his image"...

Any engravings, cave drawings, ancient texts etc. that you want to share that can support this hypothesis?

[Add Homonym]

But I believe Religion started when

I'll concede that this is an excellent way of explaining Islam.

A problem with your theory is that religion has started in lots of places. Also, the more primitive ones tend to be sacrificial ones, trying to weather and pestilence.

[rickymooston]

I have to admit, this may not be original in that I am not sure if it has been said before. But I believe Religion started when (bear with me here) Extra terrestrials visited Mankind when Man was at his earliest "form"if you will. These Aliens came in from space in their "ships"; probably researched briefly and left. And so Man thought of these Weird creatures from the sky and believed them to be  gods. That explains why they have been revisiting us for centuries now, to sort of check our civilization N' shit. It is just a theory, but I am probably right.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chariots_of_the_Gods?

[Quesi]

I believe that religion started as science and philosophy and government. 

As "science," it explained the things that couldn't be explained, such as why the sun disappeared below the horizon each night, or how the earth was formed or why there were floods and droughts. 

As "philosophy," it explained right from wrong, and tried to identify the role of human beings within their families, their communities, within the known world, and within what they understood of the universe.  It attempted to answer the "whys."

As "government," it provided rules to live by, and consequences for breaking those rules.  If your goat eats your neighbor's crops, you've gotta give him a few shekels. If you steal, the community cuts off your hand.  Or if you steal, you will be a lowly lifeform in your next life.  So don't do it.   

Every society has created religion.  There were different stories and different answers to the big questions and different rules.  But now we have real science.  Philosophy continues to ask increasingly complex questions, without needing to take a diety into account.  And we as a species are trying to create just governments.  Maybe we haven't gotten it quite right yet.  But we are trying. 

[Backspace]

I believe Religion started when (bear with me here) Extra terrestrials visited Mankind when Man was at his earliest "form"if you will. These Aliens came in from space in their "ships"; probably researched briefly and left. And so Man thought of these Weird creatures from the sky and believed them to be  gods. That explains why they have been revisiting us for centuries now, to sort of check our civilization N' shit. It is just a theory, but I am probably right.

Gort, Klaatu barada nikto...

[jetson]

Nanu, nanu

Shozbot

[JeffPT]

Mark Twain has it right...

Religion was invented when the first con man met the first fool.

[sun_king]

Mark Twain has it right...

Religion was invented when the first con man met the first fool.

This would mean religion is the longest running con in human history???

And the religious are ...

[ParkingPlaces]

I doubt that is how it happened. If it did, Genesis would start "In the beginning, god created conspiracy theorists".

I'm pretty sure humans don't need external help to make stuff up.

[rickymooston]

Evidence?

You didn't read the "evidence" in the chariot of the goods as a kid?

Lets see:
- the pictures of Aztec gods looked like they had space helmets on
- the prophet who went in a firey chariot was most obviously leaving Israel in a rocket ship

The author not only managed to get a best selling book out of the evidence but about 100 other poorly selling books as well.

Very fun reading and proof that pseudo science can be more profitable than real science

There was another screwed up theory on religion. The author was one of the guys who made a big deal about the dead sea scrolls not being accessible to scholars. His theory was religion was induced by magic mushrooms
No idea what evidence supports that thesis.

My theory? I'll go with people like Michael Shermer and Carl Sagan's t]claims about magic thinking an pattern finding abilities in the brain.My evidence is I've seen people do this and done this myself. For example, even the trivial activity of watching sports has people hoping in a magical thinking kind of way for victory.

Human worship goes back eons. We have religious animal figures from 30000 years ago.

Another factor that I would consider is a human need to belong. This need, according to my theory is transfered to the natural world. We need to see ourselves in context of the tribe. We extend the tribe to a cosmic one.

It would be interesting to delve into the peer reviewed research on the matter at a later date.

[Graybeard]

corrected small typo.

[Quesi]

You could spend your Friday nights watching Ancient Aliens!  Lots to learn there.  A few weeks ago I posted about a really interesting episode. 

Last night I watched Ancient Aliens, which is my new Friday night tradition.  I don’t know why, but I really look forward to it.

One of last night’s episodes started out presenting the theory that NASA is overseen by the Freemasons, who are in fact the holders of great secrets passed down by the descendents of the ancient Egyptians who apparently documented the fact that their bloodlines can be traced back to the “sky gods” who were, of course, ancient aliens.  Apparently, it is all a secret plot by the people who can trace their bloodlines to the ancient aliens, and who are trying to go visit their great great great great to the umpteenth power grandparents. 

Evidence for this theory included two references to the number 33.  One early NASA flight took off on runway 33.  And there was something else about another 33 related to an early rocket launch.   And then there was an A on some symbol, which NASA claimed stood for Apollo, but which clearly refers to the Egyptian god in the bloodline.  And there were three dots near the letter A, which clearly depicted Orion’s belt, which is where these aliens came from. 

How can you dispute evidence like that?

  http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/forums/index.php/topic,22603.msg505340.html#msg505340

[jaimehlers]

Religion is fundamentally an attempt to explain something unknown out of what someone already knows.  No more, no less.  People have always done it, and probably always will do it.  The difference is that as our knowledge grows, we find it less necessary to invent actors to explain the unknown, although the actors which have already been invented will stick around for a long while.

[Death over Life]

The belief you mentioned is also heavily spouted in the History Channel series Ancient Aliens so you are not alone.

[One Above All]

A theory requires evidence. Where's yours?

[nogodsforme]

Aliens have not been "revisiting us for centuries now". Because there is not a single shred of physical evidence supporting such an assertion.

Or are you going to claim that the aliens, or the US government, or the UN, or the Chinese, or the Freemasons, or the Trilateral Commission, or the Jewish bankers have been able to locate and hide every scrap of evidence, kidnap and silence every witness, divert every researcher, buy off every scientist and blackmail every official in the entire world for lo these many years?

[rickymooston]

Religion is fundamentally an attempt to explain something unknown out of what someone already knows.  No more, no less.  People have always done it, and probably always will do it.  The difference is that as our knowledge grows, we find it less necessary to invent actors to explain the unknown, although the actors which have already been invented will stick around for a long while.

Weird are on the rise. Science is a black box for most. Many great discoveries haver spawned new belief systems. New age, alien abduction, quantum mgic, the more we lean, the more to fuel those seeking something or those seeking a quick dollar

[Nam]

Dude, you sure you're an atheist?

-Nam

[Anfauglir]

Methinks DIC has left us. 

Given that he thinks his best qualification for joining the military is "i now some Army jargon" (sic), I can't say I'm surprised that he believes in regular alien visits.

[Nam]

The ARMY. WHERE ANYONE CAN JOIN, EVEN THE STUPID.[1]

-Nam

1.	this is not to say all who join or are in the Army are stupid.

[grant]

dicko, religion started through fear of death.

Still goes on today, the fear.

[rickymooston]

Aliens have not been "revisiting us for centuries now". Because there is not a single shred of physical evidence supporting such an assertion.

Or are you going to claim that the aliens, or the US government, or the UN, or the Chinese, or the Freemasons, or the Trilateral Commission, or the Jewish bankers have been able to locate and hide every scrap of evidence, kidnap and silence every witness, divert every researcher, buy off every scientist and blackmail every official in the entire world for lo these many years?

You cannotr objectively say there isno evidence

What you can say is, you've been made aware of any evidence and that some very knoledgible people who have looked have noot fopund anything conclusive

[Quesi]

Ancient Aliens coming on the History Channel in 45 minutes in my corner of planet earth! 

Come on.  Who wants to join me in this perverse Friday night addition? 

[Nam]

^I stopped watching TV a year or so ago. The only TV I watch is what's on DVD.

-Nam

[Backspace]

Recently finished a 9-day road trip through the national parks of southern Utah, and saw lots of native American petroglyphs.  I gotta admit, many of the figures looked like otherworldly creatures.  But that's looking through my 21st century eyes. Settlers traveling cross-country 150 years ago probably would have completely different opinions of the figures, since space helmets, antennas, and aliens from outerspace hadn't been dreamt of yet.

[Nam]

Abstraction wasn't evented by Picasso.

-Nam