The 10th century AD Persian astronomer, al-Sufi made reference to mythology that described movements of the two brightest stars in the sky, Canopus and Sirius, through the Milky Way that were no longer evident in his day. These movements happened between 50,000 and 25,000 BC.
The latitude of Gobekli Tepe (built around 10,000 BC, maybe much earlier) is the northermost point from which Canopus can be seen.
Canopus is the keel of a constellation that was seen as a boat.
Canopus was used as a navigation aid by ancient sailors.
There may well have been a "proto-civilsaton" that flourished way back tens of thousands of years ago - when the Ice Age was at its maximum.
Our modern religions are in some way linked to what was going on back then.
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Religion probably arose in the same way that superstition was observed in pigeons by B.F. Skinner. Most likely as a more complex version of sympathetic magic.
Our modern religions are in some way linked to what was going on back then.
And my big toe is linked somehow to Trumps scrotum....FFS, Senior will you please, just. stop?
Shut up TM and Cog...I can see the replies already....
Whoaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!
Easy on the paint thinner sunshine!!!!!
The only people who are not mentally ill or not afflicted with some kind of personality/developmental disorder are those who are 100% atheists and KNOW for certain that all religious beliefs are crap.
'Religion, in all its varieties, is a species of madness.'
The problem with being an atheist in our modern world is that when we get absolute political control the religious idiots tend to become such a threat to the development of a sane society that we have no option but to exterminate many of them.
Its much better to be a FREETHINKER and try to figure out what "religious belief" is really driven by (probably our animal instincts).
That is bollocks.
Religion is not a species but it is bloody mad.
Citation required, Seems like bollocks.
Incredulity.
When early man finally had leisure time probably when agriculture as learned, man had time to sit under the stars, ponder, and talk among themselves. And since man is a very curious animal, there were many "why?" questions. And since they had no reference or science as we enjoy, they made up things. And those things started to take on mystical qualities. Some animals became bigger than life, and powerful in their own way. Men worshiped them, and other objects.
Coupled with the fact that agriculture also allowed larger and more stable communities, some people gained power (shamans) by telling powerful stories and pretending they had a link to the supernatural. Rituals and worship soon became part of most communities.