New edition 2010 by Stephen Gislason

Any discussion of religion invites misunderstanding and conflict. The idea of large multinational organizations called “religions” is misleading. At best, the idea of religion is a fuzzy category that implies more coherence than can be found in the real world. Religion is a convenient fiction. Humans have convened in small groups for thousands of years to celebrate, to appease evil spirits and to encourage good spirits to offer more privileges and benefits.

They dress up in costumes, beat drums, chant, sing, dance and make offerings to innumerable gods. These celebrations help to maintain group unity and often induce euphoric feelings in the participants. While there has always been an archetypal form to these group activities, each local group developed its own version of myths, rituals and celebrations.

The belief in spirits is the universal form. The names, number and idiosyncratic expressions of the spirits is the local content. 

No discussion of religion will make sense until a deep feature of human nature is understood. Humans may sometimes look like individuals, but the truth is that all humans are members of a local group that determines what they know, how they communicate and how they treat other humans. Each local group develops stories, beliefs and rules.

Collections of local groups with common beliefs into larger organizations is often described as “religion.” Members of local groups are described as “religious” if they recite group slogans, attend meetings and celebrations.  Religions often claim special privileges for their members so that the term “religious” is used to claim advantages and superior moral authority where none actually exists.

In this book, I make frequent references to the local group and emphasize the importance of group activity and group identity. The aptitude and skills required for affiliations and bonding originated with interactions in small groups.

Human tendencies developed in small hunter-gather groups with humans who knew each other and depended on each other to find food, protect the young and defend the group from predators.

The tendency for selective, even exclusive, group membership is deeply embedded in the human mind and shows up everywhere and at all times.

The key elements of group identity are recognizable appearance enhanced by costumes, common language, common beliefs and common behaviors, especially ritualistic behaviors.

Download eBook in PDF format.