Richard asks…
What evolutionary purpose does the desire to worship a deity serve?
Recently asked a question and got an answer stating the natural genetic default of a human is to be atheist. This is wrong. Scientists believe apparently that we are genetically programmed to “believe in” or worship” a deity. An example to this came when scientists witnessed monkeys who had discovered a waterfall behaved in a mesmerised, adoring, worshipful way. But, if this type of mind set is genetic then it could be the product of evolution, but why should we evolve a need to worship a deity.
weight loss cardiff answers:
“Scientists believe apparently that we are genetically programmed to ‘believe in’ or worship a deity.”
No, they don’t.
Evidence suggests that it was a survival benefit to humans to be inclined to see “authority figures” as absolute authorities, especially when we’re young. That benefits survival — in cases such as when your mother or a village elder tells you “Do not go near the cliff, no matter what!” If you “believe” them, and do as you’re told, you won’t fall off a cliff — and you’re more likely to survive. If you don’t, you’re more likely to fall off a cliff. So “accept authority commands without question” became more widespread in the population by natural selection.
As human societies became more complex and larger, and societies offered up imaginary “gods” as the ultimate “authority figures,” many humans naturally accepted them, quite probably because of their instinctual “accept commands from authority.” Humans who figured out that other humans would do so, and so invented and promoted religions, took advantage of that.
But we’re not slaves to our “instincts.” Our evolved brains make us capable of rational thought, and able to make choices counter to “instinct.” One big problem though: to rationally decide to over-ride “instinct,” you have to think rationally. Something religious believers have been trained not to do in many cases by their religions.
By the way, “genetic default” or not, no human is born with a belief in any claimed god. It has to be taught.
Peace.
Carol asks…
Who is the Feirce Deity and how does it tie into Zelda?
At the end of Majora’s Mask, you recieve the Feirce Deity mask. The character is rather cool, but he just shows up and disapears again. Nothing is ever said about him throughout the game. How does he fit into the Zelda story?
weight loss cardiff answers:
Uhh this is only a theory buut
Though the mask’s history is never elaborated upon in the game, it is implied, through what is said by the likes of Tatl, and the fact that Majora himself gave Link the mask, that the mask was created by a Deity far stronger than Majora, and that Majora could possibly have given the mask to Link in an effort to destroy them both. The Fierce Deity’s evil may be even more dark than that which resides in Majora’s Mask, as Majora calls him “the true bad guy”, though this may just be a lie or exaggeration on the part of the insane Majora, and that Majora considers itself a hero.
Other theories suggest that Majora is simply insane. It is likely that Majora gave Link the mask because, as it suggested, it simply wanted to play. This is a recurring theme; the fact that Majora transforms Link into a Deku Scrub when it could have killed him, the way that it chooses to raze Termina by crushing it under a moon with a face, and the fact that it gives Link the mask before their final battle, implies that Majora, rather than malicious, is in fact playful and (clearly) mischievous. The Fierce Deity’s Mask could be a way of evening the odds; a sense of fair play, in that Majora and Link would be equal in terms of power.
Because the other transformation masks contained the spirit of someone, (the Deku Mask generally believed to be the Deku Butler’s son, the Goron Mask being Darmani, and the Zora Mask being Mikau) it can be assumed that the Fierce Deity’s Mask also contains someone’s soul. Due to its name, it is possible that the spirit inside the mask is a god. In fact, the Fierce Deity bears a partial resemblance to the Dark Interlopers who later became the Twili in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (though this could be coincidence, as the way Link sees the Interlopers might not be their real appearance). It could perhaps be that the Fierce Deity was a war god that the Interlopers worshiped before they were banished to the Twilight Realm. Since he would have aided his worshipers during their war against the other races of Hyrule, he too would have been punished. In his case, the Goddesses sealed him away in a mask.
A final possible theory is the Fierce Deity is Link’s Terminan counterpart, due to the resemblance between the mask and Link
Mark asks…
how come most religions of the world, even Catholics, try to have some female Deity aspect to religion?
Most religions of the world have, especially pagan, have the whole mother earth thing as part, a big part at that, or their religion.
And the Catholic Church also has that same aspect with Mary, and sort of deity if you will.
So why can’t most of the world not have a female aspect to their religion as the Muslims and Protestants do?
weight loss cardiff answers:
Religions are for people and largely by people, at least our interpretations and expressions of faith. With regard to that, it makes sense to me that they would contain both male and female complementarity. You can’t escape or exclude humanity in something for and by humanity.
In addition, I won’t. Mary is not revered as a deity or a part of the Trinity.
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