Resolved: Pride is the primary motivation behind religion.

I have long thought that pride and the related competition for social status did more to explain religion than fear. Fear is the hook they use to reel the fish in, but it is pride that motivates the fishermen and pride that motivates the fish after he decides to stay.

Only pathological pride can explain the incredible chutzpah behind the original claim to know why and how the universe came to be. Only pathological pride can explain the incredible chutzpah needed to go about trying to convince others that you know this and that they need to join you. Only pathological pride can explain religious wars and burning people at the stake for disagreeing over trivial and arcane matters like the doctrine of the trinity. Only pathological pride can explain believing that you are special to the creator of the universe, that your people are the chosen people, that you will live forever, that your group should have world domination, etc.

What sayest thou all?

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Permalink Reply by Mo Trauen on January 27, 2011 at 9:09am

If it leads to self-delusion or the deliberate deluding of others, then I think "pathological" is an appropriate term.

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Permalink Reply by Violet Chartreuse on January 27, 2011 at 9:56am

I would say that pride is also the reason that many cannot deconvert.

My 70-year-old parents have been lifelong, active Christians who have contributed a majority of their time and financial income to the church and evangalical outreach. There is nothing I could do or say that would make them change their beliefs. It would mean admitting that they wasted their whole life. They are too proud to go there.

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Permalink Reply by Hope on January 27, 2011 at 3:11pm

Yeah, I thought ths same way also... that pride and the related competition for social status...

and how pathological pride can explain the incredible chutzpah needed to go about trying to convince others...

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