On the idea that religion is natural and/or necessary for the human mind.

[Sargon The Grape]

This has been a topic I've seen cropping up in some circles, and I had a thought. If religion is a natural part of human psychology, then we should be able to design one that satisfies this need while staying grounded in reality.

So, AF.com, how would you go about designing such a religion?

[Baruch]

Freudian psychoanalysis came close.  Freud was like a rabbi for secular Jewish women ;-)  Sociology is based on psychology ... and I see individual spirituality based on psychology also, with religion the social equivalent.  One then translates the problem to ... what is good psychology ;-)  But at least we can be half-scientific there.  Though I think these days we can drop the pipe or cigar ... from psychoanalysis.  Being professorial and empathetic and bearded may still help ;-)

Freud's metaphysics was minimal, if you ignore his dream interpretation.  Id, Ego and Super-Ego.  Consciousness, Sub-Consciousness, Unconsciousness.  Add in the animus and anima of Carl Jung ... but drop the symbolic alchemy.

[mauricio]

This has been a topic I've seen cropping up in some circles, and I had a thought. If religion is a natural part of human psychology, then we should be able to design one that satisfies this need while staying grounded in reality.

So, AF.com, how would you go about designing such a religion?

The works of hesse, camus, julio cortazar, garcia marques, borges , gunter grass, carl sagan, douglas adam, pretty much all the literature and philosophy i have read and liked have worked like that for me. Giving me a secular spirituality and conception of "magic".

[mauricio]

I find magic and sprirituality in synchronicity, in simmetry, in aesthetics, in sensuality,  in elegant ideas, in powerful feelings.In everything i can use to create meaning for myself is this existential void.

[Cocoa Beware]

This has been a topic I've seen cropping up in some circles, and I had a thought. If religion is a natural part of human psychology, then we should be able to design one that satisfies this need while staying grounded in reality.

So, AF.com, how would you go about designing such a religion?

Well, I'd be at a complete loss, as its also perfectly natural for us to see things that are not actually grounded in reality... as grounded in reality.

We are programmed to see patterns that do not actually exist; as far as I can tell, religion does not exist without this feature.

There is plenty of meaning to be found in reality if that is the idea, I just don't think religion would be a great way to describe it.

[Baruch]

"cropping up in some circles" ... crop circles?  Damn, the aliens are at it again!

[facebook164]

Freud's metaphysics was minimal,

As was his interest in true empirism.

[gentle_dissident]

Add in the animus and anima of Carl Jung ... but drop the symbolic alchemy.

What if they're expressions of the rhythms and harmonies in our bodies? I've heard the only good thing to come out of religion is art. If religion is art, then postmodernism surely signaled the end of everything.

[Baruch]

As was his interest in true empirism.

He was the first medically trained doctor to also counsel people.  Neurology and psych-chemistry is a modern development after his time ... in his time it was little better than phrenology.  However useful neurology and psych-chemistry are for actual medical problems with the brain and nerves, it doesn't answer what ails us that is more of a syndrome, the primary thing he was addressing .. because that part is subjective.  The Behaviorists (an early 20th century school in America of psychology) tried to deal with this by denying people had any thoughts worth bothering about.  The Cognitivists (a late 20th century school in America of psychology) tried to deal with this by reducing thought to computer programming.  This is still the popular view, and at least admits that people have thoughts.

So if we deny the subjective, and affirm the objective only ... we are still Behaviorists under cover.

[Baruch]

What if they're expressions of the rhythms and harmonies in our bodies? I've heard the only good thing to come out of religion is art. If religion is art, then postmodernism surely signaled the end of everything.

Well they are, rhythms and harmonies ... which reductionist science denies ... rhythms and harmonies involve relationship, and reductionism denies relationship ... reductionism requires that you apply overly simplified models on isolated components.  If it is a big plate of spaghetti, then the scientists are stumped ... a they are with the nature of consciousness itself.  In a big plate of spaghetti, you have to presume the answer you are already trying to unravel.  If you do the Alexander Cuts The Gordian Knot ... that works with rope, but with a brain it is dissection after death.  For the scientist, the brain one second before death and one second after death, are one and the same ... atoms moving near randomly, not different in principle from a plate of spaghetti.  Music for reductionistic science, is one note .. that they will discover some day .. the master note from which all other notes are constructed.  If you take this analogy literally (and scientists are literalists just like religious nuts) then you can't even plink out "chopsticks".  One note isn't derivative of another, they have a common origin, and not as natural noise.

Postmodernism ... stupidest movement name of all time ;-)  What comes after post-modernism?

[dtq123]

(Do mind that I have had a very long absence and my views may be incredibly biased or outright changed since you last saw me.)

Religion is "Natural" to the extent that the methods of creation are natural.

For instance, Try the following steps and see if people start following your religion/cult (I am totally going to screw around with the word appeal):

• Appeal to Nationalism/ Herd Mentality.

It's a fact of nature, most want to belong to a group, one way or another. Some argue that we are built around the connections around us, while others claim that people around us only hinder our true self. Regardless, Make your group have many gatherings and have them socialize and rejoice over your Idol (See Idol/Common Goal)

• Appeal to "Compassion"

Compassion, though a new idea compared to nature's standards, has become a fundamental part of the human psyche. We strive because of our compassionate ways, the golden rule launching both the person in need and the person giving, forward. Anyway, at least claim to have a Compassionate cult/religion. It will go a long way when you expand your masses and need to justify your actions (See Rationalize)

• Appeal to an Idol/Common Goal

Idols, who can hate them? We adore them, the make us want to do great things, they inspire us... Just be sure to make arbitrary rules centered around the culture of your group and relate them to your purpose or Idol. This way this reinforces the Appeal to Nationalism and Herd Mentality

• Rationalize!

Perhaps the most important of the four, if you screw up: Make excuses! Blame it on the higher goal or Idol! Blame it on other people or the moral fabric on society! Either way, you're good to go to at least start a cult. We already have so much experience with this in our daily lives, like how most people will NEVER admit that they have the POSSIBILITY of wasting their own time. Believe me people, you can, especially with CULTS!

[SGOS]

Unitarian Universalists?  They're fine with reality, but if you want to make stuff up, they're fine with that too.

[josephpalazzo]

This has been a topic I've seen cropping up in some circles, and I had a thought. If religion is a natural part of human psychology, then we should be able to design one that satisfies this need while staying grounded in reality.

So, AF.com, how would you go about designing such a religion?

Your premise is not supported by empirical evidence. Religion has evolved along side civilization, but civilization isn't natural. It's a human construct. So the question should be: does atheism need to follow in the footsteps of religion? If yes, then how. If no? End of story.

[Flanker1Six]

We are programmed to see patterns that do not actually exist; as far as I can tell, religion does not exist without this feature.

That's why there are no religions, but only superstitions.   Omniscient; omnipresent, all loving, but it always needs some lucky dog of a human (very good work.................IF you can get it) to tell us about it.       

[stromboli]

I believe the argument can be made that many, many attempts have been made to do just that- define a universal religion that fills all the bills. U U church might certainly be considered as that religion.

Any so called benefit of a religion becomes illusory the second you imply a higher power. There is nothing in religion in terms of beneficial behavior that doesn't occur already in human behavior. So in my view, building another universal religion serves no real purpose.

And don't forget Deism- that also has aspects of universality.