Chapter 1: The Nature of Human Belief

We construct our deities based on personal experiences; what new divine figures might arise in our contemporary society?

Humans face a unique challenge: our brains are designed for the simpler challenges of the African savanna and ancient forests, yet we now navigate a highly intricate technological landscape. The complexity of our interdependence far surpasses our ability to grasp even fundamental cause-and-effect relationships. Consequently, we often act without understanding the repercussions, leading to a disconnect between our actions and their outcomes. This challenge contributes to our struggles with self-governance.

Our difficulty in grasping the external world parallels our struggle to comprehend our own internal representations, which we use—albeit unsuccessfully—to make sense of our experiences. Approximately 70,000 to 100,000 years ago, our brains underwent changes that allowed for the emergence of fantasy-based imagination. While other primates can envision future results from tangible actions (like preparing food for later consumption), only humans can create pure fantasies and mistakenly accept them as reality.

This inclination towards imaginative thinking significantly affects our behaviors, as we often cannot differentiate between our imagined constructs and actual facts. Our limited cognitive capabilities blend various thoughts into a singular, often fantastical worldview, making it difficult to engage with the complex realities surrounding us. As all brains essentially function as pattern-recognition systems, and since our evolution did not prepare us for intricate patterns, we naturally gravitate towards simplistic concepts that our brains can manage. The complexity of reality is frequently rejected in favor of simplistic ideas, even when those ideas may be fundamentally flawed. The discomfort we experience when we fail to identify patterns drives us to cling to even the most inadequate constructs.

At times, our fantasies can be beneficial; however, they often hinder our progress. Regardless, we remain largely oblivious to the fact that we primarily inhabit a realm of simplistic narratives. We believe we are consciously interacting with the world, yet our perceptions are heavily influenced by these fantasies, shaping our actions according to our beliefs.

Fantasy may have given our species an edge over others, such as Neanderthals and Denisovans. This capacity for belief allows us to identify shared traits with individuals we have never encountered, enabling us to form larger groups than our primate ancestors could manage. Instead of being limited to social circles of about 150, we can unite in massive collectives bound by shared beliefs.

The benefits of this in a world where resources are often scarce are obvious. Additionally, archaeological findings suggest that complex trading networks have existed since the end of the last Ice Age, possibly even earlier. Though barter systems are inherently inefficient, humans can assign imaginary value to objects like shells or metal pieces, allowing for sophisticated exchanges. This specialization can elevate the output of skilled artisans, like potters, above that of amateurs, facilitating economic growth through the use of fungible means of exchange.

Without our imaginative faculties, trade—and consequently specialization—would not exist, hindering the development of advanced technologies. We would remain trapped in a cycle of generalist practices, much like our ancestors who lived for hundreds of thousands of years without significant technological progress.

Unfortunately, our fantasies extend beyond social affiliations and economic systems. We create imaginary frameworks to "explain" the world, which we now categorize as religions. Long before the establishment of formalized religious institutions, humans invented fantastical beliefs to make sense of their existence, reflecting societal structures of their respective eras.

As we examine the historical trajectory of these beliefs, we observe that our imaginary constructs evolve alongside our social dynamics, albeit with some delay.

Explorations of relatively isolated tribes—akin to the environments of our ancestors—reveal that they envision numerous deities. These communities attribute divine qualities to trees, animals, weather phenomena, and even inanimate objects. The limited hierarchies within these tribes mirror the roles of their gods, each requiring respect and acknowledgment, similar to how tribe members interact.

It is likely that for much of human evolution, we perceived gods in every aspect of life. Traces of this multiplicity persist in mythologies from the Axial Age, where figures like Pan amalgamate various forest deities, and Zeus embodies aspects of weather gods.

With the unintentional rise of agriculture, human groups expanded from tribes to towns and eventually cities. Larger societies could not function under the simplistic rules governing tribal behavior. As wealth became more abstract, those who inherited it gained advantages, leading to the establishment of rigid hierarchies. At the top were rulers, followed by powerful agents, with slaves at the bottom. Unsurprisingly, religious mythologies adapted to these evolving social realities, giving rise to pantheons of gods, each reflecting the authority and rules of their human counterparts.

The pantheons condensed numerous local deities into fewer, more significant figures who absorbed traits from earlier beliefs. While local gods persisted, such as the Roman Penates, pantheons provided a framework for diverse human behaviors, accommodating the full spectrum of emotions. They also circumvented the notion of a singular "true god," making them less prone to foster intolerance.

As the Axial Age progressed, societies further elevated their leaders, who were often deified during their lifetimes, leading to the gradual unification of pantheons into a single overarching deity. By historical chance, the Hebrew god El/Yahweh emerged as the central figure in this new mythology, gaining traction across the Mediterranean from around 100 CE. Born from the beliefs of a primitive society, this god was often intolerant and lacked the cultural sophistication of the Greeks and Romans, resulting in mythologies that struggled to encompass the full range of human experiences.

Despite its shortcomings, the Yahweh concept offered simplicity, appealing to a populace seeking certainty amid the complexities of a changing world. As the Roman Empire waned, Christianity emerged as a stabilizing force, providing an illusion of consistency during tumultuous times.

Over centuries, despite its contradictions, Christianity became the dominant narrative in the West. The Roman Catholic Church capitalized on the remnants of the Roman Empire to solidify its influence for over a millennium.

However, this dominance faced challenges following Martin Luther's unintentional schism, leading to a proliferation of Christian sects across northwestern Europe. These new groups lacked the coercive power of the Catholic Church, allowing intellectual exploration to flourish, culminating in the development of empirical scientific inquiry. While the Catholic Church stifled curiosity through persecution, the smaller Protestant sects could not maintain such control for long. This shift ultimately paved the way for the Industrial Revolution.

The Industrial Revolution transformed society in unprecedented ways, altering economic structures and fundamentally changing the fabric of nations that embraced industrialization. Prior to this shift, human history was largely a zero-sum game where one individual's gain meant another's loss. While agriculture slightly modified this dynamic, the predatory nature of societies ensured that competition remained fierce. Industrial advancements, however, revolutionized this equation, enabling capital to replace mere physical labor and leading to a significant shift in economic models.

Misunderstandings about "capitalism" often equate it with the hoarding of wealth by the privileged. In truth, capitalism is about leveraging capital to enhance productivity, driving down costs and creating valuable job opportunities. Many issues mistakenly attributed to capitalism arise from corruption, political maneuvering, and the usual human failings that allow a few to exploit the system.

Yet, alongside these material advancements, the industrial age drastically reshaped the world we inhabit. Our brains, however, have not evolved at the same pace. We remain wired for the simpler realities of our ancestors, leading to widespread difficulty in adapting to contemporary complexities. Consequently, the yearning for certainty has intensified.

As industrialization and scientific advancements shifted societal foundations, new belief systems emerged. Religions often serve as a cultural salve during periods of crisis or transformation. The Hebraic narratives, for instance, arose from the clash between primal beliefs and the complexities of the Hellenic world. While many myths, such as the tale of Samson, predated formal Judaism, the latter sought to provide psychological stability amid a rapidly evolving cultural landscape.

Similarly, Plato's Republic aimed to propose frameworks for improved social organization during turbulent times. Unfortunately, most individuals exhibit a low tolerance for complexity, which is why popular religions often prevail over philosophical discourse.

Thus, when the Industrial Revolution reshaped society, it was not unexpected that individuals would seek to create new deities that aligned with the scientific advancements of their age. Freud attempted to reinterpret Christian narratives through a pseudo-scientific lens, transforming traditional figures into modern psychological constructs. Although psychoanalysis persists among some, its impact remains limited compared to its historical roots.

In contrast, Marx envisioned a mechanistic god representing historical determinism, positing that human society operated like a vast, impersonal machine. He suggested that the identity of those operating the machine was inconsequential to its function, a reflection of the mechanized world he observed.

Today, faith in Marxism has largely diminished, especially following the evident failures of the USSR and the inherent brutality of monolithic governments, leaving it appealing mainly to the hopelessly misinformed.

Currently, we witness efforts to create new belief systems that resonate with the rapid societal changes and shifting values of our time. The allure of Political Correctness lies in its pretense of providing universal, fixed rules. While astute individuals recognize the relativity of rules, most crave clear guidance and assurance of "salvation," a concept that fluctuates with the times.

This yearning for certainty drives the fervor of Political Correctness, which mirrors the zealousness of traditional religions. The tactics employed by its advocates, while lacking the power to inflict physical harm, parallel the oppressive actions of historical religious institutions.

Political Correctness resonates with younger generations seeking stability amid uncertainty, lacking the appeal for older individuals whose established beliefs provide comfort through familiarity. As the older generations pass, it remains questionable whether Political Correctness will evolve into a dominant belief system. More likely, certain elements will integrate into the cultural zeitgeist while its more extreme aspects fade, reminiscent of the once-enthusiastic radicalism of the late 20th century.

Ultimately, the new belief systems that arise from today’s societal upheaval will likely mirror older religions, offering simplified rules and notions of salvation. These emerging faiths will likely consist of easily digestible narratives, allowing individuals to cling to perceived truths despite their superficiality.

The eventual religion will likely draw heavily on existing beliefs, as successful mythologies have historically reworked previous stories to gain traction through familiarity. Just as Greek gods amalgamated earlier deities, and Roman mythology repackaged Greek concepts, the new belief systems will similarly recycle past tropes.

Regardless of how this new religion manifests, it will likely perpetuate familiar platitudes and pseudo-certainties that have characterized faith throughout history. In the end, we create what we need to soothe ourselves during times of change, constrained by the limits of our imagination as we navigate our brief existence.

Chapter 2: The Evolution of Religions

This chapter explores how religions adapt and evolve over time, reflecting the societal changes and challenges faced by humanity.

The Evolution of Religions: A History of Related Traditions - YouTube

This video delves into the historical progression of various religious beliefs and how they interconnect, shaping human culture and society.

The Evolution of Religion - YouTube

This presentation examines the transformation of religious thought over time, highlighting key events and figures that influenced the development of modern belief systems.