What if modern humans didn’t invent religion, but inherited it from an earlier species of human that went extinct half a million years ago? New evidence suggests the answer may force us to reconsider what we thought we knew about our extinct cousins - and about ourselves.
There have been and are many versions or definitions of religion. Reverence, higher personality, higher power, rituals etc. The current one is: "the belief in and worship of a superhuman power or powers, especially a God or gods or goddesses."
We can never know what Homo Erectus felt, practiced or worshipped or even looked up to.
The fundamental question is: "Did god make the first humans or did humans, as they grew in experience, invent the concept of god"? We are discussing "religion" here , so evolution doesn't enter the picture.
I think archeologists, philosophers, researchers and other "investigators" are reading too much in physical conditions, signs and practices like cannibalism, pictures on rocks, colors etc. and calling it "evidence".
Hi, thanks for this post. I highly recommend the remarkable scholarship-laden book by two depth psychologists, Anne Baring and Jules Cashford, who drew especially on the archaeological work of Marija Gimbutas, to write "The Myth of the Goddess: Evolution of an Image." They present evidence that Goddess religions prevailed for 25,000 years during the Paleolithic Era into the early Neolithic Era throughout the Middle East and Europe, empowering people to live peacefully together and in harmony with Nature. They document the rise of patriarchal religions along with the concommitant rise of warfare as nomadic shepherds from the steppes of Asia made three historic waves of invasion across Europe and the Middle East, leading to the rise of walled cities and hillforts.
Also, please consider using gender inclusive language to practice inclusion of all humanity, rather than pretending (as is historically considered normative under patriarchy) that the word "man" includes women.
Again, thank you for this interesting post on how religion goes back to our pre-Homo Sapiens ancestors.
Carol, you got it in reverse. Man doesn't include woman. Rather wo'man' includes man. Most early societies were matriarchal. Goddesses came before gods. If you're in the vicinity of La Paz, Mexico, do visit the museum in the city hall. Amazing pictures and writings of the matriarchal society called Cora, who lived in lower Baja. "Refers to the concept of tracing lineage and inheritance through the mother's side of the family within the context of the Cora indigenous people of Mexico."
Hi, Ravi, yes, thank you, that was my point that Goddesses came before gods - if you read my whole comment. I don't think that etymologically the word "man" includes woman, which is why I invite everyone to move past the patriarchal pretense of using the word "man" as though it includes women, because patriarchal men never intended it to. Thank you for the information about La Paz, Mexico. I would be delighted to visit if my budget/income will ever allow me to.
Unfounded assumptions/ wishful thinking!!!
There have been and are many versions or definitions of religion. Reverence, higher personality, higher power, rituals etc. The current one is: "the belief in and worship of a superhuman power or powers, especially a God or gods or goddesses."
We can never know what Homo Erectus felt, practiced or worshipped or even looked up to.
The fundamental question is: "Did god make the first humans or did humans, as they grew in experience, invent the concept of god"? We are discussing "religion" here , so evolution doesn't enter the picture.
I think archeologists, philosophers, researchers and other "investigators" are reading too much in physical conditions, signs and practices like cannibalism, pictures on rocks, colors etc. and calling it "evidence".
Tyranny of words and assumptions!
Hi, thanks for this post. I highly recommend the remarkable scholarship-laden book by two depth psychologists, Anne Baring and Jules Cashford, who drew especially on the archaeological work of Marija Gimbutas, to write "The Myth of the Goddess: Evolution of an Image." They present evidence that Goddess religions prevailed for 25,000 years during the Paleolithic Era into the early Neolithic Era throughout the Middle East and Europe, empowering people to live peacefully together and in harmony with Nature. They document the rise of patriarchal religions along with the concommitant rise of warfare as nomadic shepherds from the steppes of Asia made three historic waves of invasion across Europe and the Middle East, leading to the rise of walled cities and hillforts.
Also, please consider using gender inclusive language to practice inclusion of all humanity, rather than pretending (as is historically considered normative under patriarchy) that the word "man" includes women.
Again, thank you for this interesting post on how religion goes back to our pre-Homo Sapiens ancestors.
Carol, you got it in reverse. Man doesn't include woman. Rather wo'man' includes man. Most early societies were matriarchal. Goddesses came before gods. If you're in the vicinity of La Paz, Mexico, do visit the museum in the city hall. Amazing pictures and writings of the matriarchal society called Cora, who lived in lower Baja. "Refers to the concept of tracing lineage and inheritance through the mother's side of the family within the context of the Cora indigenous people of Mexico."
Hi, Ravi, yes, thank you, that was my point that Goddesses came before gods - if you read my whole comment. I don't think that etymologically the word "man" includes woman, which is why I invite everyone to move past the patriarchal pretense of using the word "man" as though it includes women, because patriarchal men never intended it to. Thank you for the information about La Paz, Mexico. I would be delighted to visit if my budget/income will ever allow me to.
Our 2 Pomeranians clearly worship my wife.