Uncovering the Roots of Religion
I was watching a video of Dr. Daniel Dennett the other day. He began this talk with the question, “Why study religion as a natural phenomenon?” This is a great question. I realized that I have been researching the origins of religion for over fifteen years. I wanted to know why different cultures came up with the same concepts, even when they could never have communicated because they were thousands of miles or thousands of years apart. I wanted to know why religions fight against each other. I wanted to know why some people flourished in a particular religion and why others became so disenchanted that they became atheists. So, as Dr. Dennett says, lets “submit religion to an embarrassing, probing, and awkward analysis that a scientific naturalistic investigation of religion calls for.”
We must begin our investigation at the earliest possible time where scientific evidence is available. Burial is the first phenomenon that shows humankind is aware that there is something that animates the body that leaves us at the time of death. The earliest bodies were curled into fetal positions and faced a specific direction. Later, bodies were buried with goods to use in the afterlife. Some goods were decorative, like flower garlands or hand-made beads, and placed upon the dead body. Then there is a movement to provide for the needs, like food and household goods, of the individual. As time went on, these tombs grew to tremendous size, which included purely symbolic items, like fully decorated ceremonial implements and statues of servants that would come to life to serve the deceased in the afterlife.
The history of burial is not the only phenomenon found by archeologists. 45,000 years ago man started to create artwork in caves. This is the dawn of communication, passing on of knowledge, and the beginning of ceremony. The orientation of the caves to the phenomenon of light is another piece to the puzzle. Certain caves were specifically chosen because they become fully illuminated by the sun or the moon on specific days of the year. Climbing into and out of the underground sites is an experience in and of itself. Scholars consider this a time when man is observing the natural world and using the natural phenomenon to educate and create ceremony. This goes way beyond marking time and the seasons.
Archeologists are finding that the caves were not just painted and oriented to light. The caves have been humanly altered to change the acoustics within the space. Why would early humans want to change a cave’s vibrational patterns? We must understand that the brain will naturally harmonize with the surrounding environment. Different vibrational patterns change the brainwaves. When the brainwaves change, different parts of the brain are opened and exercised. Once a new area of the brain is opened, you are forever changed and experience life differently. In some caves, the acoustics are quite sophisticated. Archeologists have found caves with engineered “silent” spots within the cave. This means that the initiate can see the drummers drumming and yet hear nothing. Imagine how confusing this would be. It would be quite an experience.
What happened next? Manmade structures were specifically built to create a specific acoustical pattern. The burial mounds in Ireland are being acoustically studied. The early findings are that the acoustics within these structures are powerful. Drumming in the entrance reverberates throughout the space. The pattern and speed of the drumming determines the wave pattern within the brain.
What came next? Why stop at just the brainwaves? The electrical pulses throughout the body were mapped and used for healing. Acupuncture and acupressure was developed. What is surprising is that the earliest finding of this science was in Europe. “Otzi the Iceman” was found in the Austrian Alps. He lived over 4000 years ago. His mummified body contained 61 tattoos marking the acupuncture points that would alleviate his medical conditions. His therapy was so complete that an acupuncturist was able read the symbols and define his medical issues without seeing the CT scans. Otzi lived 2000 years beforethe first known use of acupuncture in the orient. The Indus valley developed the chakra system that manipulated the spiritual energies by using meditation, prayer, and ceremony.
So, what does this mean? What is the natural phenomenon that is hidden within these beliefs? What is it that the ancients from the dawn of man knew? What were the ancient humans trying to achieve? How do we use this archeological evidence? The answer is that early humans may not have understood neurology but they were aware of the effects of brainwaves. They knew the experience of the cave would open the mind and make it function better. So, ceremonial spaces were created to expand the mind. The expansion of the mind insured the survival of the species. It insured that there would be someone who could innovate and adapt to the environment. Later, the idea that the mind could function better by using vibration was expanded to the whole body. The science of energy healing was born. The use of acoustics and energy healing are the first forms of religion. These practices took place before the emergence of writing when physical experience was the norm.
Today, we are returning to the idea of manipulating the brain waves to create healing. Magnetic resonating and sonic pulses are being used to stimulate specific areas of the brain so that they will function better. It is helping in healing autism, stroke victims, and tumors.
The use of vibration and energy healing mark the earliest beginnings of religion. The goal of all religion, from the dawn of time to the present, is to create the best possible human. Religion has been studying the energy of life for more than 45,000 years. Once writing gains a foothold, the age of learning exclusively through physical experience comes to a close. Religion begins to incorporate psychological issues and the metaphor of the imagination into its ceremonies.
