Sociology of Religion Unit 6-Sociology
Many people believe this is the dynamic of how religions come to be. Originally, something that would be passed off at a small cult, in time, becomes bigger until it is a fully established religion.
It's been said that if you want to get normal people to do bad things: you need religion. I don't know how accurate this is in all cases, but this article sure makes it seem so.
There's more than just: "I believe in God," "I don't believe in God," or "I don't know what to believe." Here are some scales that are interesting and useful for conceptualizing and categorizing different "levels" of belief. Note: the word "Gnostic" means "relating to knowledge, especially esoteric mystical knowledge."
Along with IANDS.com, NDERF collects stories from people who have had Near-Death-Experiences. Many of the stories are quite similar from people all over the world. What does is all mean? Is this some type of proof of something beyond, is it examples of delusions people have when their brain is shutting down due to their cultural expectations and desires, is is a bunch of weak-minded "spiritualists" trying to make a case for something they want to be true...etc...?