fundamentalist demonization of childsplay

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I think it could be said that the mere existence of Satan and his supposedly influence to be a violation of the known physical laws.


But what if you are replacing the Bible with fantasy with your children, what if your hero is a fictional character instead of Christ, wouldn't that be enough to say those are Satanic, for taking your mind off Him and focusing to the mundane instead?
I think most christians, even conservatives nowadays, may be more flexible on that, and only a minority might think this way, wouldn't it?

Haliphron wrote: "If you literally interpret religious precepts(NOT just bible verses but promulgations of fundamentalist preachers and authors), they seem completely ridiculous and superstitious; but if you take a step back and observe how people behave when they thing these things are real you start to gain insight into what religion is Really all about! The fairytales/theology are just the icing on the cake. Religion is a subtle means of manipulating peoples behaviour."


That`s the gist of it, all right!
According to a radio show on popular science here in Norway, religions are just that. A way to enhance tribal identity and install a feeling of superiority. So way back it supposedly played a favourable part in developing societies with a strong degree of concord, solidarity and common laws for its citizens.
Of course they are so manipulative and controlling that one might wonder if a modern interpretation is that a sociopath came up with the idea...

What I keep wondering about is the memetics of it: HOW did the concept of religion commence? Where did the idea come from? (And don`t tell me it came from the bible or mythology or other man made scriptures or oral renarrations. I`m talking PRE- all that.) Where, why and how did the first person even get the abstract notion of deities?

Does anyone else have any thoughts on that?

And another thing, if you interpret the scriptures literally, then they are full of people seeing things noone else sees (burning bushes et c) and hearing voices commanding them to act in a certain way. Schizophrenia, anyone?

I have to wonder if an aspie didn't invent religion, which of course presumes that it's not hardwired into our brains. Ever watched footage of Orthodox Jews praying at the Western Wall? They rock back and forth and chant in a monotone fashion. Sound familiar? Also, I think Buddha was an aspie, if the stories told about him have any truth. The Buddha Qualities mirror in many ways what many aspies are like-a lack of caring about the material world, zero concern about amassing wealth or power, and sort of an overall detached floating above the everyday concerns of reality.

Among ultraorthodox Jews, aspie kids are believed to have a special connection with G-d, and are venerated for their "g-dlike qualities". As noted, many Biblical prophets seem to have been schizophrenic, which may be related to autism. Israeli society in general seems really unconcerned about the American hyped "autism epidemic". American society treats us as if we're possessed by demons, but Jews have a different view. And it seems that aspies would get along wonderfully in a Buddhist monastery.

So it's possible that the differences between AS and NT people may have been the root of religion. There has been at least one aspie on here who claims to be a sort of witch or shaman who has magical abilities that are inherited. I wonder if, long long long ago, aspies were the ones who became the shamans and prophets and conjurers. Ancient cultures seem to have looked upon the neurologically different with awe and admiration, then Christianity came along and declared them to be threats and sent the NTs out to kill them where once NTs had venerated them.

Thanks Sand; I needed a bout of uncontrollable laughter

One of these things is not like the other.