Fun in the Sun

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Fun in the Sun

by SeasideMan ^Pro @ 19/04/09 – 10:20:18

The people on the jetski seemed to be having a whale of a time yesterday, and I suspect the man in his magnificent flying machine was as well.

It's easy to understand why so many older "primitive" cultures worshipped the sun. It provides light and warmth, is the brightest thing you can see. and it appears every morning in exactly the same way, more reliable than clockwork.

About 11,000 years ago, agriculture was discovered and this enabled civilization. The former mobile hunter-gatherer bands of 50 or so people (about the same size as ape and chimpanzee groups) gave way to sedentary tribes of larger numbers and eventually to chiefdoms and states. Something was needed to justify leaders and authority, and that thing was religion. It also served another purpose: instilling fear in order to keep peace. Members of a band would all have been related, but in these newer groups that wasn't true so fear of god was created for this purpose.

The twin founding characteristics of religion were fear and control.

Cheers, Tom.
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- fear
- religion
- sun
- photography
- ski
- jet
- jetski
- control
- civilization
- primitive

30 Comments to Fun in the Sun

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- blckbird ^Pro
- blckbird
- 19/04/09 @ 10:59:06
You are so right.religion had to be invented.when one examines our culture we see that the monarchs were taught to fight the monks meanwhile learnt to read by the time monarchs began reading it was too late.
- - SeasideMan ^Pro
  - 19/04/09 @ 12:21:00
  Nice description, thanks.
  
  Tom.
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- Bushka ^Pro
- Bushka
- 19/04/09 @ 11:26:42
For a moment I thought you were out early taking in the glorious sunshine! We still have 'sun-worshippers' today...don't we?
- - SeasideMan ^Pro
  - 19/04/09 @ 12:29:55
  That's exactly what I've been doing - nice long walk with the dogs at low tide :-)
  
  The modern sun worshippers are out in force today on surfboards, in boats, and with buckets and spades!
  
  Tom.
  - - Bushka ^Pro
    - Bushka
    - 19/04/09 @ 13:37:54
    No D.H.Lawrences, then? I did see several along the seaside...on the promenade....imbibing the 'Sun'; Brother 'Sun' seems to be in his element, it seems!
    - - SeasideMan ^Pro
      - 19/04/09 @ 13:44:44
      Sons and Lovers? Lots of those about!
      - Bushka ^Pro
        
        Bushka
        
        19/04/09 @ 16:25:29
        
        I'm sure! Do you recall D.H.Lawrence 'chased the sun' because he suffered from TB (allegedly) and it was very much in vogue that Brother Sun held the cure for it?
        
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        SeasideMan ^Pro
        
        19/04/09 @ 16:48:05
        
        No I didn't know that, thanks. You can see why they'd think that...
        
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        Bushka ^Pro
        
        Bushka
        
        19/04/09 @ 17:23:46
        
        Indeed, I can! Sun is very therapeutic.....Natural producer of VitD
        
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- WyrdSeeker ^Pro
- 19/04/09 @ 12:43:29
Not fair! I've had to put on my central heating for a quick blast as I'm feeling very chilly!!!

I think there's a good chance that humans have always had some sort of belief system. Institutionalising those beliefs have led to abuse as a minority have used it as means of control. Not good.
- - SeasideMan ^Pro
  - 19/04/09 @ 13:28:53
  Sorry to hear that - it's absolutely glorious again today! I'm sure you'll get the warmth soon.
  
  The way the dead were treated in the distant past gives evidence that something reminiscent of religious thought has been going on for a long time, possibly over a million years. This confirms your thought on belief systems rather well. It was only when we came together in large groups that the control you speak of became both necessary and possible, and religion was the main agent of that control. How typical of humans to find the best way of controlling people so early!
  
  Tom.
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- deleted user (Visitor)
- 19/04/09 @ 13:40:34
I say - sod agriculture!
- - SeasideMan ^Pro
  - 19/04/09 @ 13:41:26
  Haha - after digging my allotment last week I am very sympathetic to that view!
  
  Tom.
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- epistemological-savagery
- 19/04/09 @ 14:33:40
at the end of the day, nothing will invoke a sense of obeyance like the threat of eternal damnation.

i used to spend many many hours and days in my teens scared shitless about what would happen when i died. its the great unknown, and promising someone that they can make it alright is the most powerful thing you can do.

religion is based on fear indeed, but it is also based on preying upon peoples weaknesses.

its essentially cosmic life insurance.
- - SeasideMan ^Pro
  - 19/04/09 @ 15:13:49
  Thanks for that beautifully concise and accurate explanation. Perfect.
  
  Tom.
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- freeasthewind
- 19/04/09 @ 14:41:24
Ahhhhh glorious sun it was out now we have rain. Religion at this point in time I dont know what I believe or dont but that could be what is going on aroundme
- - SeasideMan ^Pro
  - 19/04/09 @ 15:14:50
  It's still glorious here - I'm sure it will be where you are again soon!
  
  Tom.
  - - freeasthewind
    - 19/04/09 @ 15:41:03
    They say about thursay it should be better
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- lilian1
- 19/04/09 @ 14:43:23
Must admit I am a sun worshipper nice pics Tom contrasting blues lovely
- - SeasideMan ^Pro
  - 19/04/09 @ 15:15:28
  All the sun worshippers are out today :-)
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- justgrrl
- 19/04/09 @ 17:50:46
Yet, worshipping the sun is just another worship again.
Is there any 'life without worship'
- - SeasideMan ^Pro
  - 19/04/09 @ 18:30:42
  Doesn't that depend how you define "worship"? I don't think I worship anyone or anything.
  
  Tom.
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- timsuzi ^Pro
- 19/04/09 @ 19:19:21
I think we are hot wired in to look for causes and explanations and therefore see them even when none exist and I think that is probably at the root of what became religous thought. Heirachies and control would have been present before agriculture, you can see within other primates that some individuals are dominant and have status while other do not and i am sure early human life also folowed that pattern. Have you read jared Diamond's 'The fall and rise of the Third Chimpanzee' it portrays the advent of agriculture as a very mixed blessing.
Cheers,
Tim
- - SeasideMan ^Pro
  - 19/04/09 @ 19:30:59
  There is certainly a strong belief amongst some biologists and anthropoligists that humans have a basic need to ask questions and perhaps doing so has an evolutionary benefit. There has even been the suggestion of a "god gene". Leaders existed prior to agriculture, but they would have been familial, as with the primates you mention. The huge difference with "civilization" was larger groups of unrelated members.
  
  That's another book I haven't read - there are so many of them...
  
  Tom.
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- jollyweez
- 19/04/09 @ 19:26:14
Neither do I Tom. Love the sun, however. Healing rays of warmth & light. Yes, many races have made the sun their whole centre for existence. Especially the Ancient Egyptians. Of course, even then, the priests held sway in their great Temples and Pharoah had to play the part that was instituted by priests. Fear through control. Keep the masses subdued! No change today either. Roman Catholic church is the worst in my opinion. Guilt & fear. My neighbour next door just slipped back into a catatonic state one month ago after attending her Catholic church's movie about abortion. Her mind just collapsed with the shock of the pictures. She sits at the table rocking. Hubby tends to her - we all hope the medicine will bring her around in due course. Religion did it to her. Makes you think what? jollyweez
- - SeasideMan ^Pro
  - 19/04/09 @ 19:41:57
  The Catholic Church has a huge power over the lives of so many people, and those who are ruled by it have no say in selection of leaders or in how it is run. In terms of a country, it's an unelected dictatorship. Guilt and fear are very powerful weapons and it's so very wrong that they are used to control so many people.
  
  I'm shocked about your neighbour, that's terrible! Really, really terrible.
  
  Tom.
  - - jollyweez
    - 19/04/09 @ 19:47:24
    Thanks Tom: She is a good neighbour and always there if you are sick or need help. Linda believes in 'only by good works can you enter Heaven,' and she is pure and naive. Poor girl, (she's 62 - but still innocent.) Thanks for caring.
    - - SeasideMan ^Pro
      - 19/04/09 @ 19:51:51
      I have the greatest respect for people who live by such good principles. I wish her a speedy recovery.
      
      Tom.
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- Chris_Andrew
- 20/04/09 @ 02:36:30
GOD IS IN THE HEART

There is a tap-root in the dark
There is a melodic line held at
Altitude (I think it is a lark)

There is diplomacy, war and this
Writing on this page - there is
Volcanic rain and fertile plains

There is love and the strange
Double beat that needs harmony -
There is intelligence.

Surely we are more
Than the sum of our parts -
The heart of All is very strange.

- CA
- - SeasideMan ^Pro
  - 20/04/09 @ 09:27:34
  I like that Chris, thanks.
  
  Tom.
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