If you could raise a group of people without them ever learning about the supernatural or paranormal....?

Question

... so that they have absolutely no idea of gods, souls, spirits, ghosts, life after death or anything of that nature, but you educated them in science and maths so that they understood evolution, energy, probability etc...

Do you think that in a short time the idea of god and ghosts would be invented again?

Or do you think these type of ideas are common to most cultures because in the past the world was a mysterious place (a healthy person suddenly dieing of a virus for example must have seemed like an act of God) but if we can accept that most things have a rational explanation we have no need of the supernatural.

Answer 1

This is a very good question, it kind of reminds me of M. Night Shamallan's movie- The Village. If someone did successfully create such a civilization then the question of if ghosts and such really did exist would come into question, if they are real then people in this civilization would eventually see them or experience them and the stories would be re-born. If ghosts and such did not exist then the idea may never come up again. But then there is always the chance that someone's imagination may create something that would resemble a ghost or what-not.

Answer 2

This is a very interesting line of questioning. (star) Separate cultures came up with these ideas independantly, so one might think them to be ingrained.  But with a scientific background, you wouldn't need to develop gods as an explaination of lightning, seasons, etc.  I think without these eternal supernatural beings as a jumping off point, they wouldn't develop ideas of souls and eternal life.  

Meankitty is incorrect in saying "since the dawn of civilization man has known we have a soul".  There is a specific development stage of civilization where people started ritually burying the dead that indicates the emergence of these beliefs.

John S.  I always question people who claim to have high IQ's in a forum where there is no way to substantiate the claim.  You can't expect people to take your opinion more seriously because you claim to have a high IQ.

Answer 3

Human nature wants an explanation for the unexplained.  If science and math could explain everything, there'd be no need to wonder if there were supernatural beings or not.  

That said, it doesn't mean that people invented God or ghosts.  It only means that they may exist because there are unexplained things in our world.  The group wouldn't create a god, but they might have their own name for it.  There's a reason every culture in the world believes in some sort of "higher power".

Answer 4

To quote Voltaire, "If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him." For some reason supernatural ideas spring up in almost every culture. There may be a basic need for paranormal beliefs. Then again, it may be an important part of an amazing human trait, our ability to believe nothing is impossible and then to frequently make our point a reality.

Imagine how people would have reacted to our present day technology a thousand years ago. I suppose they would think we were supernatural just for using the computers we're on right now. Did we eventually become as "supernatural" as we are because of our ability to believe anything can be done? Or are we guided by something that is the true factor in our evolution? I can't really say.  All I can do is learn and think for myself, while keeping an open mind.

Answer 5

Since the dawn of civilization man has known that we have a soul.   It is not something that needs to be taught. Science has only shed light on how things work, not why.

Answer 6

It is an element of human nature that we see others as being thoughtful and feeling in the same way that we are.  The actions of those around us lead naturally to inferences about feeling and thoughts.  We know that certain brusk behaviors indicate anger, while other looks and behavior represent approval.  That skill is essential to survival of a social species.  It is so essential, that we consider a lack of such ability (autism) to be a serious disability.

It is a universal human trait to extend this response to natural events.  It rains or it doesn't rain.  The patterns are difficult to discern, so we ascribe emotions and meanings to explain them.  It is genetically programmed in us to infer human emotion and rationality (or is it irrationality?) to natural events.  Such it is that all societies create dieties to feel and think these emotions.

Answer 7

What would they make of unexplained happenings that science/math is unable to solve as yet I wonder....

The world is still a mysterious place ~ There is still so much we don't have answers for.

Answer 8

Yes, the idea would pop up again--you can't know everything without allowing for everything. Frustratingly, life doesn't like to be compartmentalized. Science and religion have to shake hands in the middle.

Answer 9

answer ..

Answer 10

Well my theory is that man created gods to explain the unexplainable things in life. Sort  of  "In the beginning man created god because he was along in the darkness", instead of the other way around as in the bible.  But all my life I have seen  things that are not explained by any natural science.  Assuming any reasonably intelligent person has the same experiences that I have, then they would have to question natural sciences and wonder if they know everything. I have a very high IQ and have always questioned everything that science comes up with.  I just have to prove everything for myself.  And people  saying that something doesn't happen is not good enough for me.  Things are not limited by the laws of nature as we know them.  How else can I do psychic things and know things that I should not know.  Someone comes to me and I see things about their life that I should not know because I have never met them before.

Answer 11

I was born seeing souls, describing them and being able to match them up to ancestors my mother nor I had ever seen before-We had to ask grandparents.

  I've seen animal souls, and I've visited heaven. I'm lucky-I get an understanding of the Other Side without ever needing to rely on 'faith' alone. I've helped countless of people and I woul dnever give that up.

If you took me and did this 'experiment' more than likely I would start seeing souls but you would have me medicated, so I would think I was crazy instad of investigating and finding out the real truth.

believe me or not, won't make a difference in my life..