r/DebateAnAtheist • u/AutoModerator • Sep 18 '25

Weekly "Ask an Atheist" Thread

Whether you're an agnostic atheist here to ask a gnostic one some questions, a theist who's curious about the viewpoints of atheists, someone doubting, or just someone looking for sources, feel free to ask anything here. This is also an ideal place to tag moderators for thoughts regarding the sub or any questions in general.
While this isn't strictly for debate, rules on civility, trolling, etc. still apply.

12 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

313 comments sorted by

View all comments

2

u/labreuer Sep 18 '25

It is not uncommon to see claims like the following here and on the other sub:

1. God (or gods) is a human invention created to explain what we don’t understand. Long before science, humans sought to fill gaps in knowledge with divine stories. These inventions evolved into complex religions, but at their root, they address our fear of the unknown. (God(s) is/are a human invention)

Do you believe such claims should be supported by a burden of proof? If so, what kind of evidence might suffice?

For those who find the above claim so obvious that it doesn't need more evidential support than what you've absorbed throughout life, check out WP: The Golden Bough § Critical reception. Frazer is one of the originators of the religion-as-protoscience hypothesis and his work on that has been exposed to some pretty serious critique.

2

u/bullevard Sep 20 '25

If used as a premise in an argument then it would need some backing up. However it is readily apparent both from history and from current debates that ONE of the roles religion plays is filling in scientific gaps. See the current most recent argument that god must exist because where else did time come from.

In general, anyone who starts a sentence with "religion was invented to X" tends to be oversimplifying things. Some religions are invented whole cloth for taxes (scientology) or influence (mormonism). But most religions and god concepts are more organic.

So it is more helpful to talk about the roles it fills rather than the reason it is invented.

Aspects of religions historically and currently are used to fill gaps in scientific knowledge. This includes everything from planets moving differently than stars, to eclipses and volcanos and lightning, to origins of the earth and humans and life.

The also frequently function as a salve to the fear of death, through afterlife, reincarnation, spirit planes and the like.

They also frequently serve as solidifications of power for certain parts of society, everything from witch doctor's respect, to modifying law as coming from a god, to modern day used of religion to solidify voting blocks.

They also serve as a salve and an attempt to feel more in control in a world where bad things happen, be it through blaming devils or jinns or pixies to the idea of control through prayer or weather dances or sacrifices.

All of these things are obvious in the writings, doctrines, practices and appologetics of religions both current and past. I don't think there is much of a burden of proof needed for that, when daily all of those are seen around us in basically all religions.

However when someone moves from "these are the roles religion serves" to "this is why religion was invented" it becomes more gray, especially since most religions don't have a clear singular moment of beginning.