Origins

The true origin of humanity is widely debated and a very sensitive subject. There are many different outlooks and opinions on whether human beings evolved from primitive primates millions of years ago or were created by a supernatural being thousands of years ago. Even with today’s great advancements in technology, it does not seem like this question will be answered for some time. More than likely, even if someone could come up with a theory that majority of scientists would agree upon, the strong religious beliefs that billions of people hold would make it almost impossible to change their minds and get them to believe different.

Science tells us that human beings began to evolve over two hundred thousand years ago. Historians say the idea of right and wrong was a major subject as human beings began to gather and form societies. I once saw a study where three groups of children were giving the same tasks to complete and asked to do so in an orderly manner and they would receive a reward at the end. Group one had someone present in the room, group two had no one present in the room, and group three was unattended but the children were told there was a magic princess watching them. Amazingly the group that had the best results was group three. I think this says a lot about mankind, religions, and societies. The one major thing that separates mankind from animals is our ability to make rational decisions. I think the idea of there is always someone looking compels people to do right.

I was raised in a Southern Baptist household and was taught from a very young age that being a Christian and believing in God and Jesus was the only way to reach a peaceful afterlife. As an adolescent I never thought to question that idea. As I have gotten older, traveled the world, and had more life experiences I can honestly say I do not believe there is one correct belief. I have not lost my faith in Christianity or my personal beliefs that there is a God or Jesus, but the belief that Christianity is the sole religion that is correct. I believe that God comes in any form needed for a person to do right, including those who do not believe. I know some atheist who had better values than some dedicated church goers I know.

There has not been one religion that has lasted since humanity has stared. But for thousands of years, almost all societies have feared, praised, and acknowledged some type of higher being. The main similarity in all of the different religions is that there is a belief in a non-present supernatural being or beings. Most modern day religions tell its believers there is a peaceful afterlife. Before these religions became the, Greek and Roman religions portrayed there gods as supernatural beings who toyed with humans lives because it was of very little value to them and there was nothing mankind could do about. I believe this is why it was so easy for current religions to grow. For most life was generally bad and the new religions promised it would get better because there was a being that actually cared.