I recently came across this article that involved this experiment. 5 monkeys were put in a cage together and a banana was hung from the ceiling with a ladder placed underneath it. When one monkey would climb the ladder they would all be sprayed with cold water. When another monkey would go to get the banana the same would happen to him and all of his friends. This happened until the monkeys learned the “lesson” climbing the ladder would result in being sprayed with cold water. Once those 5 monkeys knew what was going to happen if they did try to climb the ladder they replaced one monkey. As predicted the new monkey raced to get the banana but knowing the consequences of climbing the ladder the 4 other monkeys grabbed the new monkey and beat him up. This new monkey now knows no climbing the ladder and no banana without knowing why in the first place. The scientists continued this until all the monkeys were replaced and each monkey got the same treatment, try to get the banana, get beat up, when arriving to the new cage, Now all these new monkeys have never received the cold water treatment but every time a new monkey tried to climb the ladder they remaining 4 monkeys would beat the new one up only because the “rule” had already been set in place even though those monkeys really had no idea why.
This is basically how religion works. Maybe our ancestors were punished to the point that our whole society won’t “climb the ladder” of religion and question it’s purpose. But I sure as hell won’t be one of those monkeys. I will make it to the banana and reap the benefits of a delicious treat for not letting people pull me down and beat me up for what I choose not to follow blindly.
theatheistchick 