This document was was submitted by me as assignment for the coursera course Soul Beliefs and consequences. I Have also included here a posting I did in the course titled “Soul Beliefs in Hinduism”.
Could Societies have existed without religion?
"Kovil illadha uril kudiirukathey"(கோவில் இல்லாத ஊரில் வாசிக்கதே)the Tamil saying loosely translated to mean “Do not reside in town or village that does not have a temple.” I tend to agree with this sentient and feel other humans must have felt the same and it is more than likely that no society existed without religion.
The question is whether humans invented moral codes and religion to ensure social order, prevent freeloaders and create fighters for warring groups or if like finding fire the humans stumbled upon god realization while entering trance state while dancing or during contemplation and deep meditation – rituals and moral code derived later from this realization or handed down by a prophet/saint.
The evolutionary psychologists like Wade believe that the primitive societies moved away from Alpha male dominated society to egalitarian society (where no one individual was the leader); the dominant person was at risk as others tended to gang up against them. Sharing of the hunt and produce was encouraged. In such societies, moral code was necessary to ensure survival of the group and ensure that everyone does their part and fighters were willing to lay down their life for the sake of the group. Such moral code was promoted by rituals such as ritualistic dancing, music and adhering moral code of conduct.
Rewards were meted out of good conduct and punishment handed out for deviations from the norm. It was not always possible to punish or reward all the folks and afterlife reward punishments system was invented and the belief in the soul took root. Also, it is possible that folks found it difficult to accept death of the dear ones or their own death and hence the belief in soul that lived on forever might have been created. Folks also started believing in super natural forces to account for disease, floods, earthquakes and other natural disasters who could be endeared through rituals, prayer and sacrifices to lessen the burden on the individual and the group and emerge victorious in inter group warfare.
Such groups who adopted moral and religious values ensured social harmony and survival of the group. Those groups who did not perished due to natural selection say the evolutionary psychologists. Hence it is concluded that “No society has exited (or survived) without religion”. It is also observed that all societies without exception have common religious beliefs and most folks have religious tendencies and this corroborates the above view or conclusion.
Other View is that God created the physical world and all souls by first creating a group of heavenly beings and saintly beings who performed the work of further creation. he creation stories of various religions although differ in many aspects (according to Hinduism the present cycle of creation 155 trillion years old but as per Christianity it is only 6000 years, the all accept god being the creator. In this route the religion is well integrated in the creation and hence by this process also “No society has existed without religion. So, societies, whiter viewed as evolution or creation could not have existed without religion.
It appears in the global village the wealth (money, scientific knowledge, the ability to win wars) rest with a few prosperous nations. Is this an indication that other nations will gang up against them or will it continue to be dominated by powerful nations and individuals? Anticipating this, powerful nations also have built up nuclear arsenals capable of destroying all life on the planet. Also, the survival of the species is being threatened by what is called the sixth extinction where the human race is destroying the planet due to excessive resource consumption. Hence the survival of species may rely on religion of happiness and meaningful life without having to consume disproportionate amount of resources. We see the signs of this happening; but is it happening at a fast-enough rate? How do we handle the threat of nuclear arsenal (The very fact that we have them is an indication that we are ready to use them)? Or is it that nature will take its course and create conditions in the world that only certain number of lives will be preserved? So, as the humanity and many other species face extinction, what will be nature of religious activity that will evolve that will ensure the survival of species as it has done in the past?
Soul Beliefs in Hinduism
Since the write up did not say much about soul beliefs in Hinduism except the concept of recycle of souls till attains the "ultimate reality", I thought that I will put down what I have been told (some it experienced)
1) There is the eternal soul that existed before creation that is beyond time and space (This mean infinite time and space and also means only here and now exists - Since we are all historically minded, we will go with infinite space and time). Some Call it Vishnu, others call it Siva some others call it Shakthi (the female version). Let us leave it alone for now.
2) The eternal soul created the universe and and is not separate from it. Examples give are like a spider that creates the web (creation) and pulls it back (end of creation - leading to another creation). Or a smile on face is distinct expression and also part of the face.
3) The individual souls are body of the divine soul and hence all are connected to the eternal soul and also distinct (just as we feel each cell in our body is distinct). Although we think/feel that we are experiencing life, it is the eternal soul that actually experiences everything
4) Our Body/mind and ego prevents us from realizing this reality (This illusion is called Maya).
5) The eternal soul first created Brahma (Who does the job of creation), Vishnu (is it the same as eternal soul, there are various versions of it the protector of the universe) and Siva (the Destroyer or who helps the soul to return to the source by destroying the Maya). Brahma creates the various souls, initially by creating very may saintly beings, who propagate the creation (Not considered sin but actually doing gods work). Even animals, birds, snakes and plants have souls.
6) The creation, like seasons goes on in cycles of four (called yugas) . Here is wiki Link to Yugas. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuga. and we are in about 155 trillion years of the present cycle of creation (quite small in comparison to infinity)
7) The souls go through recycling based on their karmas (actions in present life) and unfulfilled desires. If your final desires are noble you are reborn with good purpose and circumstances in life and the opposite. The person who contemplates on god at the end of life is not reborn. Those who had devoted to god's purpose most of life or had surrendered to enlightened gurus are also not reborn (due grace of guru or God). Mostly we cannot do it ourselves.
8) Our world is called "Lilavibhuti" is where all this happens. There is another world called "Nityavibhuthi" where souls have attained the eternal soul and are never reborn (this 3/4th in size) and ours is only 1/4th in size.
9) The eternal soul or its representative or born in the world to guide others are to establish Dharma (The way it was meant to be), when dharma is disturbed greatly. These birth out choice (not out of Karma or desire) are called "appearances" and not birth.
10) The eternal soul is considered by some as formless and without any qualities by some where as other believe that the eternal soul has infinite from and infinite qualities.
11) Hinduism sounds polytheistic with may Gods; but actually it is one god with almost infinite forms. This Characterized by "Vishwarupa" where the lord reveals himself to be all the souls). The term I recently learned in "Pantheistic", I think it refers someone who is everything and is yer distinct from it all. God is not just creator (hence an external force) of the many splendored world; God is the world. Ultimately everything is distinct expression of Brahman.
More Later, As I learn More.
