> Spike Jones <spike66@ibm.net> writes:
> >
> > As much as I hate to admit it, humans seem to have an instinctive
> > tendency to worship something. That is not to say that all humans
> > have this, but many do, and I must admit I myself feel the pull.
>
> Anders Sandberg wrote: I wonder what it is.
I do too Anders.
> The genetic explanation is simplistic and simply
> skirts the issue: what systems in our brains produce an urge to
> worship, and why?
> What real evidence is there for an innate tendency for worship?
Anders, those of us who have it need not even ask the question. {8-[ Before, I used the analogy of worship instinct to homosexuality. That analogy breaks down if one pushes it too far, but it works in some ways. For instance, those of us who are straight just dont understand it, try as we might. But I suggest that sexual orientation is somehow hard wired, not learned behavior. Instinct. Like worship instinct, hard wired, not learned. The particular *brand* of religion is learned, the susceptibility to it is instinct. I think.
I have seen it from the opposite point of view than most extropians: children of religious parents are born utterly lacking the religion gene. These parents are often emotionally crushed, self blaming, etc. Its very sad. No amount of brainwashing will reverse the condition, and instill the religion meme, if one is born without the religion gene.
> > Even now, I feel a vacuum in my life that extropianism does not fill
Dopamine. If we master ways to create the right dopamines, one
should be able to control ones religious beliefs, and sexual orientation
for that matter. Consider: there is a special kind of dopamine that
is associated with religion. I once could literally make myself high
without ingesting chemicals, but by... well never mind how. But if
we could make a pill that releases those feel-good chemicals without
resorting to religion, well, there you have it. Seems like we should
be able to figure out which dopamines go with which activities, and
arrange for them to be released whenever it is appropriate. Then
perhaps Extropianism can be made as fulfilling as religiona and love.
> > (as intellectually fulfilling as it is).
>
> As I see it, we need to find ways of making extropianism or
> transhumanism as emotionally fulfilling as it is intellectually
> fulfilling. I think it can be done, but it is an unusual (i.e. new)
> use for psychology and critical thinking to come up with it.