I was reading a really painful thread earlier today. One with different religious folk trying to see which were going to Heaven and which weren't. People still believe in that garbage in 2004? Oy.

It occurred to me that it's got to be an intentional evolutionary quirk. Think about it - so many people "need" religion in order to feel like there's a purpose or a meaning to life. Watch them as they debate - it's never about proof. It's about what they feel. They'll believe something or disbelieve something because of the way it sounds, not because of evidence.

It's no secret that women are more "spiritual" (ugh) than men. Why is that? It's also no secret that many women all of a sudden become "spiritual" (ugh) when they have kids. Hmmm. I think it's got to be a survival thing. A woman has children - someone has to provide for them for a few years. It's in the best interest of species survival to ensure that she sticks around. If religion helps soothe her fears about the world and gives her reassurance, helping her to raise the kid(s), all the better. Natural selection doesn't mind lies so long as they help survival.

It also occurs to me that women tend to have this "knight in shining armor" complex. A man of mystery will come and save them. First it's the guy that turns out to be their husband. Then after they're with him long enough, they see he ain't all he's cracked up to be. Therefore they need another knight in shining armor - who's a more reliable mystery man than God? Women can make him out to be anything they want. Feeling the power of their faith in him helps them get through the day, regardless of whether or not that faith is misplaced.

Much like they view their father and their mate, God becomes the all-powerful mysterious powerful male who will make things better.

Likewise, males have a "relationship" with God not unlike the relationship with their own father. They often ignore him or think he's an idiot when they're younger. There is a lot of angst toward God in young males. As they get older, they start to respect and revere, and ultimately love him. Just like with their father.

Isn't there a book on this somewhere? I vaguely recall someone mentioning a book about how people fill this God gap with their feelings about their own father.

I'm an Atheist. My father died when I was two and I feel like I never really "met" him because I don't remember him. Hmmm. And my stepdad was a complete asshole - perhaps that's why I have such loathing for Christianity? Something to think about.

Or it could just be bullshit. Just talkin'.

New reviews today, negros:

Deeds Of Flesh - "Trading Pieces"
Immortal - "Pure Holocaust"
Burzum - "Hlidskjalf"
Mercyful Fate - "Don't Break The Oath"
Operia IX - "The Black Opera"
Sacred Reich - "Ignorance"