“were never “invented” by anyone”—Dubious claim, Gene.
What is claimed here is that, whether in any way reflecting something real or not, religious practices frequently came into being as particularly effective deceptions. Step 1: convince others you can do magic. Step 2: make yourself less of a target by pretending to be a chosen servant of an invisible dragon. This also ensures obedience even in your absence. Step 3: profit better than any warlord. Step 4: the invisible dragon survives you.
I think all this faith in evolutionary explanations going on around here is a side effect of our ability to model God.
“Leaders (and wannabe leaders) invented religion for selfish reasons.”
This explanation is just plain silly. Judaism, Hinduism, and Greek paganism, e.g., were never “invented” by anyone.
“were never “invented” by anyone”—Dubious claim, Gene.
What is claimed here is that, whether in any way reflecting something real or not, religious practices frequently came into being as particularly effective deceptions. Step 1: convince others you can do magic. Step 2: make yourself less of a target by pretending to be a chosen servant of an invisible dragon. This also ensures obedience even in your absence. Step 3: profit better than any warlord. Step 4: the invisible dragon survives you.