This is why I stay open-minded and curious about all things...

If people obeyed moral guidelines based on a sense of community and empathy rather than religious reasons, morality could still be strong, meaningful, and adaptive.

Secular Morality Foundations

Empathy and Compassion: Morality grounded in empathy relies on understanding others' suffering and well-being, motivating altruistic and ethical behavior without external mandates.qcc.cunyyoutube
Community and Cooperation: A sense of belonging and mutual support can create social norms and moral expectations that maintain order, trust, and cooperation, independent of religious belief.qcc.cuny
Reason and Consequences: Secular ethics often emphasize reason, critical thinking, and the consequences of actions to guide moral choices, allowing flexibility and evolution of moral principles as society changes.wikipedia+1
Autonomy and Moral Agency: Individuals can take responsibility for ethical decisions based on understanding and compassion, fostering mature, self-reflective morality without relying on commandments or fear of divine punishment.wikipedia+1

Advantages of Non-Religious Morality

Adaptability: Secular morality can adapt more readily to new knowledge, social changes, and diverse perspectives, without being tied to fixed dogma.reddit+1
Inclusivity: It is inclusive of people regardless of religious belief or lack thereof, promoting universal human rights and dignity.wikipedia
Reduction of Conflict: Moral frameworks based on empathy and community may reduce divisiveness caused by competing religious doctrines.qcc.cuny

Summary

Morality rooted in community and empathy can be as effective or even more adaptable and inclusive than religiously based morality. It fosters ethical behavior through understanding, shared values, and reason, allowing societies to evolve moral norms coherently with human needs and scientific knowledge.youtube qcc.cuny+1

In essence, humans are capable of moral goodness independent of religious belief, motivated by compassion, reason, and social connectedness.youtube qcc.cuny

Determining which global religion has promoted the most violence or caused the most deaths over centuries is complex, as religious conflicts are intertwined with political, ethnic, economic, and social factors. However, historical analyses often highlight that:

Christianity has been involved in numerous deadly conflicts, including the Crusades, the Thirty Years’ War, the Inquisition, and various religious wars in Europe. These conflicts collectively caused millions of deaths, with some estimates attributing tens of millions to Christian-related wars. For example:grunge+1
- The Taiping Rebellion in 19th century China, influenced by Christian ideas, caused about 20 million deaths.
- The Thirty Years’ War in Europe caused roughly 7.5 million deaths.
- The Crusades had death tolls in the millions spanning centuries.apholt+1
Islamic-related conflicts have also caused significant loss of life, including various historical conquests, inter-Muslim sectarian wars, and modern conflicts influenced by religious identity. It’s important to note that many conflicts labeled religious also had strong ethnic or political motivations.grunge+1
Other religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and others have had fewer large-scale wars primarily attributed to religion, but also experienced periods of violence and persecution (e.g., Partition of India with millions killed in communal violence).apholt+1

From a historiographical perspective:

Studies suggest that approximately 13-15% of the deadliest conflicts and atrocities historically have had significant religious components, with the rest being political, economic, or ideological conflicts.apholt
Some historians and scholars argue that much of what is labeled religious violence often involves complex sociopolitical causes where religion may be used as a mobilizing identity rather than the root cause.linkedin+1

In summary:

Christianity and Islam have historically been associated with some of the deadliest conflicts where religion played a central or significant role, with total casualties potentially in the tens of millions over centuries.grunge+1
It is important to understand religion’s role as one factor among many in human conflicts, rather than the sole or primary cause in many cases.apholt+1

This complex topic is best approached with nuance, recognizing both religion's role in violence and its contributions to peace and social cohesion.

Religion has several potential negative effects or "cons" that have been widely discussed and analyzed. These include psychological, social, and cultural impacts that can sometimes cause harm or hinder progress.

Cons of Religion

Fear and Anxiety: Many religions are based on doctrines involving sin, punishment, and eternal damnation, which can instill deep fear and anxiety in believers about their moral worth and afterlife, negatively affecting mental health.sofoarchon+2
Self and Interpersonal Conflict: Religious teachings that emphasize human sinfulness and perfection can lead to self-loathing and guilt. These beliefs sometimes generate intolerance and conflict towards others, especially those from different faiths or secular perspectives.reddit+2
Violence and Intolerance: History and current events show that religious identity can be a source of prejudice, bigotry, sectarianism, and violent conflict, as groups defend exclusive truth claims or perceived threats from others.templetonreligiontrust+2
Suppression of Inquiry and Knowledge: Religions often promote dogma that discourages questioning or critical examination of beliefs, which can lead to intellectual stagnation and resistance to scientific understanding.sofoarchon+1
Restriction of Personal Freedom: Strict religious norms and moral codes can limit individual autonomy and expression, sometimes enforcing conservative views on gender, sexuality, and lifestyle choices.philarchive+1
Social Division: Religion may contribute to social fragmentation by reinforcing tribalism and "us vs. them" mentalities within societies.reddit+1
Guilt and Psychological Strain: Adherence to religious standards can cause feelings of guilt, shame, or fear of divine punishment, leading to emotional distress for some individuals.pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih+1

Despite these challenges, many people and societies also see religion as a positive force, emphasizing charity, community, moral guidance, and social support. However, the cons reflect significant ways religion can sometimes harm individuals and societies when rigid or dogmatic forms dominate.pewresearch+3

In summary, the key criticisms of religion center on its potential to cause fear, conflict, intellectual inhibition, and social division, alongside psychological burdens for believers.pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih+4

In modern times, religion continues to serve several key functions in society, albeit evolving to meet new cultural and social realities. It remains a powerful source of personal meaning, social cohesion, ethical guidance, and community support, while also facing challenges from secularism and scientific advances.ejournal.bumipublikasinusantara+1

Modern Uses of Religion

Providing Meaning and Purpose: Religion offers individuals a framework for understanding life, death, morality, and existence, helping many find meaning and hope in an uncertain world.pewresearch+1
Social Cohesion and Community: Religious groups foster a sense of belonging and identity through shared beliefs, rituals, and community activities, often providing social services, charity, and support networks.ejournal.bumipublikasinusantara
Moral and Ethical Guidance: Religions continue to influence personal and societal ethics, shaping moral behavior and offering frameworks for justice, compassion, and human dignity.pewresearch+1
Cultural Heritage and Tradition: Religion helps preserve cultural heritage and identity, linking people to their history and shared values through festivals, art, and collective memory.ejournal.bumipublikasinusantara
Political and Social Influence: Religion still plays a role in politics and governance in many countries, influencing laws, social policies, and political movements.ejournal.bumipublikasinusantara
Interfaith Dialogue and Pluralism: With increasingly diverse societies, religion also contributes to dialogue, tolerance, and cooperation among different faiths, promoting coexistence in pluralistic contexts.ejournal.bumipublikasinusantara
Adaptation to Modern Challenges: Religious institutions are adapting through reinterpretation of doctrine, embracing technology, and engaging with contemporary social issues like gender equality and human rights.ejournal.bumipublikasinusantara

Societal Challenges

Despite these positive roles, religion also faces criticism and challenges such as extremism, intolerance, conflicts with scientific views, and societal secularization trends, especially in high-income countries.pewresearch+1

In summary, religion today remains a significant cultural and social force, providing meaning, community, and ethical frameworks, while adapting to the complexities of modern life and diverse global societies.pewresearch+1

Humans are thought to have created religion as a complex social and psychological adaptation that helped early societies survive and thrive under existential pressures. Religion likely originated as a way for humans to explain the unknown, reinforce social bonds, reduce anxiety, and coordinate cooperative behavior among unrelated individuals.wikipedia+2

Reasons for Creating Religion

Explaining the Unknown: Early humans attributed natural phenomena and events—like lightning, illness, or death—to supernatural agents, simplifying the complex world and providing explanations where knowledge was limited.sapiens+1
Social Cohesion and Cooperation: Religion helped bind large groups of unrelated people by creating shared beliefs, moral codes, and rituals. This facilitated cooperation and reduced internal conflict, helping early societies grow beyond small kin groups.wikipedia+1
Reinforcement of Authority and Order: Organized religion served to justify social hierarchies and political authority, legitimizing rulers who claimed divine right and thereby maintaining social order.wikipedia
Emotional Comfort: Religion provided mechanisms for coping with stress, fear, and uncertainty by offering hope, meaning, and community support.scirp
Cognitive Development: The emergence of "theory of mind"—the ability to attribute mental states to others—may have enabled humans to imagine supernatural agents and organize religious beliefs around them, using shared imagination to enhance survival chances.scirp

Evolutionary Perspective

From an evolutionary viewpoint, religion evolved gradually alongside human cognitive and social development, starting as animistic beliefs among hunter-gatherers and becoming more complex with the rise of agriculture, cities, and states about 11,000 years ago. As societies grew, moralizing gods and formal religious institutions helped maintain cooperation and social stability.sapiens+2

In summary, religion likely arose as an adaptive cultural toolkit that enhanced human survival by promoting social cohesion, explaining the world, and offering emotional support in the face of life's challenges.sapiens+2

The current scientific consensus, based on extensive fossil, genetic, and archaeological evidence, is that human beings evolved through a natural process of evolution over millions of years, rather than being created suddenly and separately as described by creationist beliefs. Evolution explains the gradual development of life, including humans, from earlier common ancestors through mechanisms such as natural selection and genetic mutation.smithsonianmag+2

Scientific Evidence For Evolution

Fossil Record: Shows a clear progression from early primate ancestors through various hominin species to modern Homo sapiens, with transitional fossils marking key evolutionary steps.humanorigins.si+3
Genetics: Human DNA is closely related to that of other primates; the similarities and patterns of inheritance point to common ancestry.britannica+1
Archaeology & Anthropology: Tools, art, and cultural remains trace behavioral and anatomical changes over time among hominins, supporting gradual development instead of abrupt creation.smithsonianmag+1
Consensus: The overwhelming majority of professional scientists and biologists accept evolution as the explanation for the diversity and origins of life.humanorigins.si+1

Creationism in Context

Creationist beliefs propose that humans and all other life were created in their present forms by a divine being, as described in various religious texts. While this view is held in certain religious communities, it is not supported by empirical scientific evidence and is not a scientific explanation for the origin of species.britannica+1

Evolution remains the only explanation supported by convergent evidence from multiple scientific disciplines.smithsonianmag+2

From the Shang dynasty oracle bones, Chinese written records have continued uninterrupted to the present day, making it one of the world’s longest continuous written traditions.wikipedia+3

The oldest full written records in Chinese history began about 3,200 years ago in the Shang dynasty, and proto-writing traces possibly date back as far as 8,000 years, but only fragmentarily and without linguistic continuity.historyofinformation+5

A significant number of both ancient and modern religions have incorporated psychedelics or other psychoactive substances into their spiritual and ritual practices, spanning every continent and a wide spectrum of belief systems.bigthink+4

Ancient Religions and Psychedelics

Sumerian, Vedic, and Zoroastrian traditions referenced ritual use of drinks like soma and haoma, widely believed to be derived from psychoactive plants or fungi.wikipedia+2
Ancient Greeks practiced rituals such as the Eleusinian Mysteries, where participants consumed a psychedelic drink called kykeon that likely contained ergot alkaloids (LSD-like substances).pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih+3
Aztecs, Maya, and other Mesoamerican cultures used psilocybin-containing mushrooms, peyote cactus (mescaline), and morning glory seeds (ololiuqui) in religious ceremonies, as described by both archaeological evidence and Spanish chroniclers.beckleyretreats+3
Indigenous Africans and Australian Aboriginal groups historically have shamanic traditions that employed psychoactive plants and mushrooms in spiritual and healing ceremonies.psychedelics.berkeley+2
Neolithic and pre-literate societies likely experimented with a range of psychoactives, as suggested by archaeobotanical finds and the prevalence of hallucinogen-inspired cave art.bigthink+1

Modern Religions Incorporating Psychedelics

Native American Church (Peyotism): Uses peyote cactus as a sacrament in communal rituals, protected as a religious practice in several countries.wikipedia+1
Santo Daime and União do Vegetal (Brazil): Christian syncretic religions employing ayahuasca (containing DMT) during ceremonies for vision, healing, and spiritual guidance.pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih
Mazatec and other modern shamanic traditions (Mexico, Latin America): Continue the ancient ritual use of psilocybin mushrooms for divination and healing.bbc+1

Scholarly Perspective and Prevalence

The use of psychedelics in religious contexts is described as a near-universal element in the origins of spiritual practice, described by scholars as “incalculably old, globally pervasive, and rich with meaning”.bigthink
At least a dozen ancient religions are specifically documented to have regularly used entheogenic plants, fungi, or brews in their most important rituals; including but not limited to: Vedic Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Greek mystery cults, Aztec and Mayan religion, and pre-Incan Andean traditions.beckleyretreats+3
The phenomenon continues today with legally recognized and underground religions, numbering at least several dozen across the Americas and globally.pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih

Summary Table: Major Examples

Religion/Region	Psychedelic Used	Period	Ritual Context
Vedic Hinduism & Zoroastrianism	Soma/Haoma	c. 1500 BCE	Sacramental drink, divine communion wikipedia+1
Eleusinian Mysteries (Greek)	Kykeon (Ergot/psychedelic)	1500 BCE–400 CE	Spiritual revelation ceremonies beckleyretreats+1
Aztec/Mesoamerican	Mushrooms, Peyote, Ololiuqui	1000 BCE–present	Divination, deity communication beckleyretreats+1
Native American Church	Peyote	19th c.–present	Communal and healing rituals pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih
Amazonian Syncretic (Brazil)	Ayahuasca	ca. 20th c.–present	Spiritual, healing ceremonies pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih
African tribal traditions	Psilocybin, ubulawu, cannabis	Prehistoric–present	Healing and initiation rites pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih+2

In summary, at least a dozen major ancient religions, and numerous modern faiths, have used or continue to use psychedelics as central to their rites, forming a longstanding and diverse global tradition.bbc+4

The San people of Southern Africa have the oldest direct lineage that can be reliably traced through genetic and archaeological records, dating back approximately 100,000 to 140,000 years, making them the group with the longest continuous ancestral record of any major race. For religions, the earliest written records are those of the ancient Sumerians (Mesopotamia) from around 3500 BCE, with their development of cuneiform script for religious, legal, and administrative documents.independent+4

Oldest Recorded Races

San People (Southern Africa)
- Genetic studies confirm the San are direct descendants of some of the earliest modern humans, having lived continuously in Southern Africa for more than 100,000 years.oldest+2
- They possess the highest levels of genetic diversity, indicating a long, continuous population history.telegraph+1
Aboriginal Australians
- Traceable lineage back at least 50,000 years, and possibly as far back as 75,000 years through archaeological and DNA evidence.oldest
- Hold some of the oldest oral histories, with stories likely reaching back at least 7,000 years.reddit

Oldest Recorded Religions

Sumerian Religion (Mesopotamia)
- The oldest surviving religious texts and ritual records come from Sumer (modern Iraq), dating to about 3500 BCE.wikipedia+1
- Early written records include hymns and legal-religious codes such as the Kesh Temple Hymn and the Reforms of Urukagina.oldest
Ancient Egyptian Religion
- Written records and religious chronologies date back to 3000–2500 BCE, often paired with dynastic lists and royal inscriptions.wikipedia
Hinduism
- The ancient Vedic texts (Rigveda) began as oral tradition possibly as early as 1500 BCE, with written versions dating slightly later.wikipedia

Special Cases: Genealogical Records

Confucius Family Lineage
- The family tree of Confucius, the Chinese philosopher (551–479 BCE), is the longest documented and continuously updated family lineage, with 83 generations recorded over 2,500 years.myheritage
- This is a written genealogical record rather than an entire "race" history, but it is notable for its documentation.

Comparison Table

Group/Religion	Record Type	Earliest Reliable Date	Notes
San People (Southern Africa)	Genetic/archaeology	100,000–140,000 years ago independent+2	Oldest known continuous human population
Aboriginal Australians	Archaeology/oral	50,000–75,000 years ago oldest+1	Oldest continuous cultures outside Africa
Sumerian Religion	Written	~3500 BCE wikipedia+1	Oldest religious/literary records
Ancient Egypt	Written	~3000 BCE wikipedia	Earliest royal and religious chronologies
Hinduism	Oral/Written	~1500 BCE (oral tradition)wikipedia	Oldest living major religion, textually later
Confucius Family Lineage	Genealogical/written	2,500 years (83 generations)myheritage	Longest written continuous documented family tree

The San people hold the record for the longest continuous human lineage, while the Sumerians provide the oldest surviving religious records. For religions still practiced today, Hinduism has the longest continuous tradition, though its earliest parts were committed to writing somewhat later than the Sumerians.independent+6

Research on historical movements to change or overthrow governments suggests that around 3.5% of the population actively and continuously participating in sustained nonviolent resistance is generally sufficient to topple entrenched regimes or force serious political change.thinkbigpicture.substack+3

Key Insights

In the U.S. context, with a population of approximately 340 million, 3.5% equates to about 12 million people engaged in organized, persistent nonviolent action.bbc+1
This 3.5% rule has been observed in over 300 movements worldwide historically, none of which failed when sustained participation reached that threshold.americanprogress+1
Nonviolent approaches are twice as likely to succeed as violent ones, partly because they are more effective at gaining support from critical institutions like police and military.thinkbigpicture.substack+1
Success depends not just on numbers but on broad-based, cross-community participation including women and marginalized groups to build a unified front.reddit
Military and law enforcement support or neutrality is pivotal. Without them, political change is unlikely even if the population rises.reddit

Violent overthrow scenarios require fewer people with military/police support, but carry high risks and lower overall success rates.reddit

In summary, a sustained nonviolent movement involving about 3.5% of the U.S. population—roughly 12 million people—could potentially overwhelm or overthrow the current government and push for a new system, assuming wide institutional support and unified coordination.bigthink+3

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