>>13828562Monkeys and other animals have a limited form of communication, we took it a bit farther and developed language. It wasn't long after that and we were not just telling each other things but asking each other things. And then we started making up answers. We deified nature do not offend the spirit of the river or it will dry up. Well eventually this got codified into a religious system and those in the know could tell others what the spirit's and gods wanted or demanded of others and religion was born.
Turns out it's not all bad. Religion keeps groups together and helps keep the peace when neighboring communities share belief systems. Individuals who could accept the bullshit had better lives and reproduced more. Do this for 75,000 years and the ability to fool yourself into believing in god is virtually instinctual. Very few of us will still believe someone that tells you god sent the hurricane because some men were sticking their dicks in other men's assholes but your still willing to pray for Devine help when in a pickle.
God's not able to cure the kid with cancer, he's too busy doing the important work like helping you find your keys or get a good night rest. That said praying can be a powerful meditative process and those who pray have real benefit from the practice. I'm not saying you cant find other ways to get the same effects but it's a cognitive shortcut to perceive the peace, or knowledge or guidance or whatever as coming from a benevolent external source.
