Quote by Christopher Hitchens

[R]eligion was the race's first (and worst) attempt to make sense of reality. It was the best the species could do at a time when we had no concept of physics, chemistry, biology or medicine. We did not know that we lived on a round planet, let alone that the said planet was in orbit in a minor and obscure solar system, which was also on the edge of an unimaginably vast cosmos that was exploding away from its original source of energy. We did not know that micro-organisms were so powerful and lived in our digestive systems in order to enable us to live, as well as mounting lethal attacks on us as parasites. We did not know of our close kinship with other animals. We believed that sprites, imps, demons, and djinns were hovering in the air about us. We imagined that thunder and lightning were portentous. It has taken us a long time to shrug off this heavy coat of ignorance and fear, and every time we do there are self-interested forces who want to compel us to put it back on again.

[R]eligion was the race's first (and worst) attempt to make

Summary

This quote suggests that religion emerged as humanity's first attempt to explain the complexities of reality before the advent of scientific knowledge. It highlights the limited understanding early humans had about the world, including concepts such as physics, biology, and astronomy. The quote emphasizes how ignorance and fear fueled the belief in supernatural beings and mystical phenomena. However, as humanity discovered scientific principles and gained knowledge about our place in the universe, it became necessary to shed these ancient beliefs and move toward a more rational understanding of the world. The quote also highlights the continuous resistance from certain groups that seek to maintain ignorance and fear for their own benefit.

Topics

Religion History

By Christopher Hitchens

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