Quote:
Originally Posted by Toy Soldier
What's always confused me more than that, is that religious people are still distraught when their loved ones die (even if their loved ones were devout, too). I mean... if they really believe... then why? Is it just selfishness / because they will "be missed"? The level of grief makes that feel a bit unlikely, but surely they truly believe that their loved ones are now somewhere better, peaceful, and generally awesome? Shouldn't they be like "Ohhh yay! Lucky Bob!!". This is also not mocking - it's something I genuinely wonder about. Because I know that these people themselves DO really believe it and yet, they are devastated by losing loved ones.
My stance on it right now is that, basically, I think that (as irrational as I find religion) religious belief is a part of the rational mind; it's learned, consciously fully believed, even subconsciously very deeply embedded. But when it comes right down to a kick in the guts like losing someone, instinct kicks in and leaves the person devastated. On that most basic level, they "know" that that person is just gone. As that initial pain fades and the grieving process progresses they later start to reintroduce the idea that they will "see them again, one day".
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Indeed. Wishful thinking is hardwired into our psyche as its evolutionary successful, or at least has been. When food was scarce, disease killed you and climate and animals killed you the hope that something big and all powerful would protect the good was a great way of dealing with the sh1t that came along. Survival of the fittest and strongest will always lead to the weak thinking "well when you die you will pay for this you swine.."
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