Religion in Big History: A Neurobiological and Psychological Theory

Journal of Big History Pub Date : 2019-02-21 DOI:10.22339/JBH.V3I2.3290

Lacy Loar-Gruenler

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Abstract

The most elegant and complex matter ever identified in our universe may well be the human brain, with its evolved ability to process and interpret not only our physical situation, but our existential one. For all humans ask: What is the meaning of life? Why are we here? And all humans conjecture: Surely there is something more. Although in the context of Big History we can identify elements of religion practiced as far in the past as by the stromatolites, and as recently as by our fellow primates, only humans possess the consciousness to seek definitive answers to those existential questions concerning our God or gods. In an increasingly globalized and secularized culture, is there a future for religion? Is there a place for any deity, for religion? Yes. Dramatically imagined, lovingly inclusive of all, with a shedding of institutional dogma and doctrine, cosmic religion can be found in each of us; the personal path to God or our gods lies in our evolved brains and mysterious minds. Correspondence | Lacy Loar-Gruenler, lal629@g.harvard.edu Citation | Loar-Gruenler, L. (201) Religion in Big History: A Neurobiological and Psychological Theory. Journal of Big History, III(2); 155 172. DOI | http://dx.doi.org/10.22339/jbh.v3i2.3290

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大历史中的宗教:一种神经生物学和心理学理论

在我们的宇宙中发现的最优雅、最复杂的物质可能是人类的大脑，它进化出的能力不仅可以处理和解释我们的身体状况，还可以处理和解释我们的存在。所有人都会问:生命的意义是什么?我们为什么在这里?所有人都在猜测:肯定还有别的东西。虽然在大历史的背景下，我们可以识别出早在过去的叠层石时期就已经存在的宗教元素，以及最近的灵长类动物，但只有人类才有意识去寻找关于我们的上帝或众神的存在问题的明确答案。在日益全球化和世俗化的文化中，宗教还有未来吗?有任何神灵和宗教存在的地方吗?是的。充满戏剧性的想象，充满爱心地包容所有人，摒弃制度教条和教条，宇宙宗教可以在我们每个人心中找到;通往上帝或我们的神的个人道路在于我们进化的大脑和神秘的思想。Lacy Loar-Gruenler, lal629@g.harvard.edu引文| Loar-Gruenler, L.(2011)《大历史中的宗教:一个神经生物学和心理学理论》。大历史学报，3 (2);155年172年。DOI | http://dx.doi.org/10.22339/jbh.v3i2.3290

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Journal of Big History

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