| According to some scientists, religions are a form of | | | | and complex, picking up new details as time |
| superstition. But then again, some scientists believe | | | | progressed. Eventually people wondered how much |
| that consciousness itself is an illusion and everything | | | | of them were true. |
| can be explained by interactions between chemicals | | | | Different cultures shared different stories, which |
| and particles. On one level, religion may have | | | | accounts for the many different religions developed |
| developed in the same way superstitions developed. | | | | throughout history. Each religion offers something of |
| Once you make the assumption that there is an | | | | value to those who practice it. They offer us a way |
| invisible connection between one thing and another, it | | | | of thinking about the "ultimate nature of the |
| opens a whole new world of possibilities. | | | | universe" in a way that is more personal and more |
| After making enough such assumptions, primitive | | | | satisfying to us. |
| mankind could easily have surmised that there was a | | | | Religion is best defined as your personal relationship |
| spiritual being controlling life on Earth. With no idea of | | | | with the universe. As such, each of us has our own |
| what such a spiritual being might have been like, it | | | | religion, although it may share many similarities with |
| was natural to imagine God to be some sort of | | | | the religions of others. We may say the same |
| super-human being who could be pleased or angered. | | | | prayers to the same God and still have our own |
| In ancient times, stories were the primary | | | | personal relationship to that God. |
| entertainment available. At night, after a long day of | | | | Some people feel more comfortable relating to a |
| hunting and gathering berries, it felt good to sit back | | | | universe of matter and energy, while others are |
| and listen to stories explaining how the world worked | | | | more comfortable relating to a conscious and spiritual |
| and where we fit into it. The essence of good | | | | universe. Some feel comfortable in a relationship with |
| storytelling hasn't changed much, and the best stories | | | | strict guidelines, while others are more comfort-able |
| are those with some basis in truth, making them | | | | in a relationship that's more open and loving. Some |
| even more believable. | | | | prefer the idea of a father figure ruling the universe, |
| When someone had a good day hunting, or narrowly | | | | whereas others prefer a mother image nurturing |
| escaped a saber-tooth tiger, a story about how they | | | | them. |
| were aided by God gave the experience added | | | | That's why there will never be "One True Religion." |
| depth and meaning. On the contrary, stories about | | | | Different folks relate to the universe in different |
| how God punished those who disobeyed the leaders' | | | | ways. As I see it, if God created so much variety in |
| wishes gave those leaders extra authority. | | | | trees, birds, and people, God certainly must have also |
| As stories were shared, they became more involved | | | | created variety in religion too. |