Reply #2: Religion has always been with society

[ismnotwasm]

And I don't think it's going away. It's a fundamental part of the human experience. The effect of religion, or systems of belief can't be understated. I like reading about the background of religions, because there are always hints, at least the women had more power/control/respect at one time. There was a better balance at least, and probably different intent for women than the roles that actually emerged.

I believe the standard anthropology explanation, in short, is going from a hunter-gatherer and animistic society, to a agricultural society, with Goddesses and fertility rites, to the more expansionist and war-like societies with male/power Gods. (One of the reasons Freud's penis-envy,among other things and ideas, always puzzled me, because it certainly wasn't always that way, and it isn't anything "hardwired" into us.)

I like Elaine Pagels as far as the Christian religion goes. It seems I've read the Chalice and the Blade, but since I can't remember if I did, I should read it again. "Sacred Pleasure" I'd probably read just because the title is intriguing. The spirituality of being, even for an agnostic like myself, doesn't lead me to fear of that very spirituality.
At least not anymore. So thank you!