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Itisnowagain
antonia
Itisnowagain
Animals are not concerned what happened yesterday or how it will effect tomorrow
Animals are not concerned with how they appear.
As you are not able to communicate with animals you cannot be sure of that.
I watch animals and see that they see and hear what there is to see and hear.
They are not lost in ideas of other or things in time.edit on 31-12-2013 by Itisnowagain because: (no reason given)
A couple hundred-thousand years ago—sometime after our hominid ancestors had controlled fire, but long before they were telling ghost stories—early humans huddled around campfires to meditate and partake in shamanistic rituals. Today, when we slow down for a yellow light, recognize a dollar sign or do anything, really, that involves working memory, we have these ancient brainstorming sessions to thank.
That's the somewhat controversial connection psychologist Matt J. Rossano is making. Ritualistic gatherings sharpened mental focus, he argues. Over time, this focus strengthened the mind's ability to connect symbols and meanings, eventually causing gene mutations that favored the enhanced memory we now possess.
"We have decent evidence that shamanistic rituals may go very deep into history, and that these rituals might have had positive psychological effects," says Rossano of Southeastern Louisiana University, whose theory appears in the February Cambridge Archaeological Journal.
[...]
BlueMule
parad0x122
Itisnowagain
parad0x122
reply to post by Itisnowagain
The knower of God knows it is all just happening and no one is doing anything.
Isn't it just amazing?
And with that tidbit of religious babble, I bid you adieu. Next thread, I'm over this one.edit on 31-12-2013 by parad0x122 because: formatting
Babble? Hardly. Sounds like someone has a thin brain! teehee
bigfatfurrytexan
However, there is some capacity for abstract thought in other animals. I have seen my dogs planning insofar as they will exit the back door with expectations of what they will encounter. Variations on that expectation create different results in their behavior. There isn't deep abstract thought...but there is some amount of it there. If i tell them "Go see (insert sons name)", they will both go to wherever he is in the house and sit next to him. Same with my mom and my wife. Same with each other. I can ask Sasha, "Where is Lillie" and she will run to find her.
AfterInfinity
reply to post by Stormdancer777
I don't see religion being an evolutionary trait. Spirituality might be, though.edit on 31-12-2013 by AfterInfinity because: (no reason given)
I do not know that. I do know that we all try to minimise cognitive dissonance. If reflecting and pondering increases it in non spiritual people then they would stop doing it and less use of cortex may lead to its thinning.
Stormdancer777
reply to post by logical7
Others get cognitive dissonance and to counter that their cortex gets thinner
Is that scientifically proven?
Just tell me sir, why you want to be a humanist? Whats the PURPOSE??
bigfatfurrytexan
logical7
reply to post by Stormdancer777
Humans are rational beings, we need a higher purpose to feel a sense of well being. Spiritual people have it. Others get cognitive dissonance and to counter that their cortex gets thinner, simply put they operate more lower animals like.
You don't need a God to have a higher purpose.
My "higher purpose" is humanist. I like to help others. Make life better on this planet 1 action at a time.
One thing I have noticed in my 40+ years here on this Earth is that God isn't here to help us. All we got is each other.
edit on 12/31/2013 by bigfatfurrytexan because: (no reason given)
logical7
Just tell me sir, why you want to be a humanist? Whats the PURPOSE??
bigfatfurrytexan
logical7
reply to post by Stormdancer777
Humans are rational beings, we need a higher purpose to feel a sense of well being. Spiritual people have it. Others get cognitive dissonance and to counter that their cortex gets thinner, simply put they operate more lower animals like.
You don't need a God to have a higher purpose.
My "higher purpose" is humanist. I like to help others. Make life better on this planet 1 action at a time.
One thing I have noticed in my 40+ years here on this Earth is that God isn't here to help us. All we got is each other.
edit on 12/31/2013 by bigfatfurrytexan because: (no reason given)
bigfatfurrytexan
I like to help others. Make life better on this planet 1 action at a time.
I did not compare them with lower animals. I meant their behaviour becomes more influenced by their lower animal drives, eat, sleep, procreate, die. They could be very smart in all material sciences but distant from philosophical reflections as it causes questions that their belief cannot answer.
antonia
logical7
reply to post by Stormdancer777
Humans are rational beings, we need a higher purpose to feel a sense of well being. Spiritual people have it. Others get cognitive dissonance and to counter that their cortex gets thinner, simply put they operate more lower animals like.
What? That article did not compare the functions of the brains of nonbelievers with "lower" animals. Many animals have sharper brain function in certain areas than humans.
Also: Correlation does not equal causation.