Buddhism and Christianity would seem to be counterexamples, but one could argue whether or not they are religions at all but for the perversions of secondhanders like Paul.
Buddhism and Christianity would seem to be counterexamples, but one could argue whether or not they are religions at all but for the perversions of secondhanders like Paul.
To me Buddhism is more of a life philosophy than a religion as generally understood. However I regard Christianity as a definite example. The natives keep doing the magic rituals but nothing ever happens.
That the believers don’t understand the difference between the necessary conditions for magic and the sufficient conditions for magic. Of course there may not be any sufficient conditions but that doesn’t stop them trying.
i.e., they don’t understand something, so they leap to the conclusion that it’s magic rather than simply their own ignorance?
If this is what you mean, then it seems that religions are a cargo cult, yes, because the vast majority of the participants can’t criticize their own thinking. However, I think that many religions (e.g., Catholicism) have an intellectual elite who think they have met the conditions for sufficiency.
According to Wiki, “A cargo cult is any of a group of religious movements appearing in tribal societies in the wake of interaction with technologically-advanced, non-native cultures.” Erich von Däniken tried to link the origin of religions with visits by advanced aliens, but failed to find any evidence to support these claims.
According to Wiki, “A cargo cult is any of a group of religious movements appearing in tribal societies in the wake of interaction with technologically-advanced, non-native cultures.” Erich von Däniken tried to link the origin of religions with visits by advanced aliens, but failed to find any evidence to support these claims.
Perhaps the definition is too restrictive. Alternatively you could point out that the magic person (Jesus, Mohammed) is believed to be a member of a technologically-advanced, non-native culture (’gods’).
I point out that the magic spells for these religions all have little that is dissimilar from those of accepted cargo cults.
Cargo cults are a well-explained topic in the God Delusion. I don’t see how anyone could think that all religions are cargo cults - they aren’t. Different branches of Christianity were spun from political disagreements, for example - they are not cargo cults.
Cargo cults are a well-explained topic in the God Delusion. I don’t see how anyone could think that all religions are cargo cults - they aren’t. Different branches of Christianity were spun from political disagreements, for example - they are not cargo cults.
That argument is not logical. What is the evidence that a cargo cult can’t split into two or more versions for any reason?
Well, I believe it is logical. Since a cargo cult involves high-tech meeting low-tech, and there was no high-tech at the time of Christ, I say a logical conclusion is that Christianity is not a cargo cult and therefore neither is anything from it.
Well, I believe it is logical. Since a cargo cult involves high-tech meeting low-tech, and there was no high-tech at the time of Christ, I say a logical conclusion is that Christianity is not a cargo cult and therefore neither is anything from it.
How do you know ‘Jesus’ wasn’t an alien? That his magic tricks weren’t advanced science? I can make a good case that G W Bush is also a space alien.
Well, I believe it is logical. Since a cargo cult involves high-tech meeting low-tech, and there was no high-tech at the time of Christ, I say a logical conclusion is that Christianity is not a cargo cult and therefore neither is anything from it.
How do you know ‘Jesus’ wasn’t an alien? That his magic tricks weren’t advanced science? I can make a good case that G W Bush is also a space alien.
Sure, but it’s all about probabilities. Dawkins says he’s 99.9999999999999% sure there is no god, but even he admits it’s all about probabilities. If Jesus was an alien, I think he would have returned by now to let us all in on the joke. Speaking of jokes, GW provides a stronger probability of alienship.
Have you read the God Delusion? The chapter about cargo cults was excellent. I thought the book started out a little bland, but I found it very interesting about half-way through. He (Dawkins) really covered everything well. My next book is the Blank Slate - I’m looking forward to it after hearing what some people here have said about it.
Sure, but it’s all about probabilities. Dawkins says he’s 99.9999999999999% sure there is no god, but even he admits it’s all about probabilities.
What kind of probability is he talking about?
Do we live in a universe were it’s possible that we could have been created by God and possible that we could exist without being created by God?
I doubt it, I think either we must be created by God or we must not be created by God but we don’t know for sure which is true. Therefore the probability being talked about is only epistemic.
Sure, but it’s all about probabilities. Dawkins says he’s 99.9999999999999% sure there is no god, but even he admits it’s all about probabilities. If Jesus was an alien, I think he would have returned by now to let us all in on the joke. Speaking of jokes, GW provides a stronger probability of alienship.
Yes, Bush clearly has problems with earth gravity and geography must be simpler on his home world.
Sure, but it’s all about probabilities. Dawkins says he’s 99.9999999999999% sure there is no god, but even he admits it’s all about probabilities. If Jesus was an alien, I think he would have returned by now to let us all in on the joke. Speaking of jokes, GW provides a stronger probability of alienship. 
