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Myth, Superstition, and Human Evolution (Tor Guimaraes, USA, 12/23/17 4:15 am)

I have been thinking further about my prior statement and question, "The right choice seems to be abundantly clear in favor of more knowledge, less myth, mysticism, and superstition. So why do so many people prefer ignorance and seem to enjoy myth, mysticism, and superstition?"

The more I reflect on this, the more convinced I become that therein lies the demise of mankind.

While scientists have been able to produce new knowledge and societies have educated people to cure diseases, make our lives more productive and comfortable, travel farther and faster, and more easily communicate with our loved ones, this apparently has not been enough.

When the masses are following wisdoms such as "one does not need to have any physical evidence in order to believe," we are all doomed for two simple reasons: First, if followed literally, it will stop the discovery of valid knowledge which historically has been the only way to improve human conditions. Second, individuals or groups interested in ripping people off and fooling them to follow their political agendas, will have a field day. That explains our slowly increasing national decay quite well: while our educational system deteriorates, leaders like Trump proliferate.

JE comments: José Ignacio Soler was applying the "belief without physical evidence" to science as well, not just religion. How many of us regular folks have seen relativity or black holes? DNA?  The stuff inside our iPhones?

Evolutionary scientists like Jared Diamond have argued that myth and superstition are assets for human survival, not liabilities. Otherwise, agnostic or atheistic societies would have out-survived their religious competitors, especially given the high economic cost of maintaining religious institutions.

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