Religion and Primitive Tribalism

[ralis]

Because the roots of religion lie in the primitive tribal, I thought it interesting to discuss the various ways in which we are all influenced by these roots. In what way does the primitive tribal effect one's worldview? Religious, superstitious, social, philosophical, cultivation practices and other facets of one's life. Does practicing Qigong and other techniques transform tribal conditioning, belief systems and the fearful mind?

 

Here is a link on some of the media insanity in the culture of the U.S.A. This is why I wanted to have this discussion. In general, I have doubts that most humans can transcend their primitive roots, no matter how far removed i.e, time and distance.

 

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/02/22-5

 

ralis

[Hugo_M]

Because the roots of religion lie in the primitive tribal, I thought it interesting to discuss the various ways in which we are all influenced by these roots. In what way does the primitive tribal effect one's worldview?

ralis

 

ralis i had today begun to read the book: Primitive Secret Societies by Hutton Webster

 

we are not influenced in these primitive tribes of ancient times!! because almost every primitive has different rules+ the world they lived is total different as the world we live today, when do you hear in todays law that before to go to war you must sleep whit boys or girls or kills children? that was a most for some tribes, so the warriors could get strength.

 

Regards

[ralis]

ralis i had today begun to read the book: Primitive Secret Societies by Hutton Webster

 

we are not influenced in these primitive tribes of ancient times!! because almost every primitive has different rules+ the world they lived is total different as the world we live today, when do you hear in todays law that before to go to war you must sleep whit boys or girls or kills children? that was a most for some tribes, so the warriors could get strength.

 

Regards

 

Not quite what I was talking about. What I mean is group behavior that is structured like the primitive tribal. The rules are different. However, the behavior is the same. Dr. Timothy Leary wrote on this topic in the 50's at Harvard. He stated that humans behave in tribal ways much as primates behave in their social groups. There are a lot of studies one can cite. Just Google it.

 

Examine the Third Reich and you will see the same behavior as in the primitive tribal. The psychology is the same.

 

How far back does one need to go to find the primitive tribal? Roman Church? Roman Empire? Alexander? Hebrew people? What I am talking about is a primitive psychology, not a specific tribe in the jungle somewhere. A psychology of a group wanting to fend off "the other". This could be based on superstition or even differences in beliefs, values or whatever.

 

Whether in religion, politics or so called spiritual circles, "the other" is always the problem.

 

If you look at the rift between Chi-Lel qigong and Soaring Crane Qigong you can see an example of what I mean. The Chi-Lel people say "my qigong is better than your qigong". Is this any different than the above? Same type of psychological behavior.

 

ralis

[Hugo_M]

Not quite what I was talking about. What I mean is group behavior that is structured like the primitive tribal. The rules are different. However, the behavior is the same. ralis

 

ok i see sorry is just that i am not so good at english , any way my apologize, because i did not understood at the beginning of this thread

 

i pray you have a very good night, so good like the stars itselft

Edited February 22, 2009 by HugoOlivaresMila

[goldisheavy]

Does practicing Qigong and other techniques transform tribal conditioning, belief systems and the fearful mind?

 

In my opinion -- no way. If anything, it has the power to confirm tribalism and make it seem true. The only way to free oneself from it, is to question it. And you cannot question tribalism by performing a technique that evolved from a tribal mindset. At best, the technique is unrelated to the tribalism, and cannot do anything to shine a different light on it. At worst, the technique was essential to sustain tribalism, and practicing it will entrench one further.

 

However, having said that, I'd like to repeat that the potential harm of various "tibal" techniques is not something I take as a given. For example, breathing is something even the most open minded person does. That's not something that's related to tribalism in my view. I'm just taking an obvious extreme to show that not everything tribal people did had to do with tribalism. So it's quite possible that many techniques they practiced have salvageable truth in them, especially when looked at through fresh eyes.

 

As for my tribalism... I grew up believing that everything was made of matter. So physicalist materialism is my dogma. Lucky for me, I have questioned it, and moved beyond it. Unfortunately most people still believe in physicalist materialism and if you question it, people often (but not always!) think you are insane. It's like questioning the existence of a Sun. Physicalism seems so "obvious" to many people, that they cannot enter into a sincerely questioning attitude with regard to it.

Edited February 23, 2009 by goldisheavy

[Kim88]

" Does practicing Qigong and other techniques transform tribal conditioning, belief systems and the fearful mind?

 

Here is a link on some of the media insanity in the culture of the U.S.A. This is why I wanted to have this discussion. In general, I have doubts that most humans can transcend their primitive roots, no matter how far removed i.e, time and distance."

 

Ralis,

I agree with your comments. Although some of us have surpassed ethnic tribalism and become more global in our thinking we all still adhere to our little tribal practices in our everyday communities. Its called peer pressure or social conditioning. When everyone starts talking about fear and war its time to turn off the telly and do tai chi.

I would like to think that most people can transcend their primitive roots but also think that most of them don't want to.

It's war-porn or fear-porn, like watching disaster news, it's too engrossing to turn off even though you feel a bit dirty watching it.

Any practice that stills the mind is going to be good -for the collective consciousness too.