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Pastimes : Let's Talk About Our Feelings!!! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Dayuhan who wrote (85243)	8/10/2000 11:27:36 PM
From: cosmicforce	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 108807

I have a theory about the evolutionary function of organized belief systems and zealots. When half the tribe is washed away in a lahar, the shaman is there to provide some explanation for why the normal model isn't working. When all the inputs go rail-to-rail, the shaman is there to provide imaginary constancy. By sharing the shaman's vision (even one that is totally unsupported by the obvious facts of the situation), the tribal unit is able to preserve trust in the old data model which contains a lot of still useful information in it (even though it just failed catastrophically). People don't lose faith and start to think that most of what they knew is wrong. The old model still explains most every day experiences, and the imaginary one of the shaman patches the holes in it by fitting the extraordinary into a rather ordinary, yet practical understanding of the universe. By turning the minds endorphine system on, ecstatic states of mind produce a calming and stabilizing influence on the tribal members. So in this sense, the belief is, quite literally, the opiate of the masses. The degree of the sedation is related to tribal stress levels. More environmental stress produces more imaginary belief systems. This is how evolution forces buy-in to an otherwise irrational and untenable situation. People are drawn together by the good vibe provided by the endorphines, rather than responding chaotically to a situation that is out of their control. But, this is just MY theory.