Tao, maybe we're barking up the wrong tree to simply pin the desire to search for the ultimate, metaphysical truths only on pyschology. Perhaps its in our genes as in the "God gene:"
Is God in Our Genes? - TIME
and maybe folks like you just aren't wired that way.
On a related note, there's interesting anecdotal and actual research to suggest that psychic abilities are genetic. Path has spoken here before about a familial line of that in her family. Path has also spoken of from childhood having various visions or communications with what she took to be God as well as a variety of other entities not typically seen or heard by the vast bulk of humanity-lucky duck. I'm thinking she got a big dose of the God gene & perhaps a few others. I tend to think that we are a world or dimension nested within other worlds or dimensions and entitites perhaps all the way up the chain to God are often in communication with us-trying to find us, not just us find them-but unfortunately we are generally spirit deaf. Path, hope you notice this thread as I'm interested in your reaction to this comment. That latter bit would be particularly no news to the old Celts. Guess that makes that view more "Old Age" than "New Age." Earl
I think the strongest evidence points toward humans, in general, having an innate tendency to see person-hood and sentience in everything. Now, whether you attribute that to brain function without a connection to reality, or to brain function with a connection to reality... that is the matter of opinion and I don't think there is a "right" answer but only a personal experience.
I think that there is evolutionary purpose in humanity's overall tendency toward animism of some sort-- whether that attributes person-hood to spirits in nature, or to multiple gods, or to one God, or whatever. The evidence from anthropological studies in religion are that religion generally serves important social functions and the basic animistic mindset is grounded in the way human brains work. In a small percentage of the population, there seems to be an innate tendency for a "shamanic" type of cognition, what could be compared to the INFP or INFJ personality types of Myers-Briggs- the types that in traditional societies fulfilled roles of shamans and mystics, and in modern society have no official role but most commonly become teachers and psychologists/counselors (interesting enough).
There is certainly a psychology (and a sociology) to "finding God," but this is not the same question as finding or converting to a religion, and both of these questions are different than the question of the functionality of religion in society and the functionality of spirituality in the individual. Good, solid work in the social sciences have looked at all these questions and research is ongoing- stuff is out there for any who wish to read it.
The thing is that none of it negates individuals' experience of God, or the concept of animism or God. All it says is how this stuff works, how human cognition works, and the positive and negative effects of such on the individual and society. The question about whether all this stems from a reality where there is a God (or spirit-world) or whether it is just a glitch of human cognition that is somehow relevant to our evolution and social functioning is another question, and one for which there is no scientific answer, as there is no observable data that is replicable (outside of hallucinogenic drugs and trance states, which still begs the question).
So for Tao, my visions of the Otherworld, which I perceive to be a part of reality, is merely dream or fantasy, or some sort of strange way my brain functions. But there is nothing that suggests either of us is right, and there is really no way for Tao to come into that Otherworld with me and compare notes. I can share what I am able to express about my own experience, but unlike my scientific studies, I cannot share the experience itself. I can only say that I do believe any person would be hard-pressed to have lived in my body/brain for any length of time and remain an atheist, unless there was a constant assumption that one's experiences were illusory. But then, what of the rest of experiences? How to distinguish between them when all are equally real and vivid in the individual mind?
Now, if I were unsuccessful... homeless, not paying my taxes, and so forth... then people could call me crazy. However, that I have successfully attained a doctorate, teach college, publish stuff in peer-reviewed sources, am moderately financially stable, vote, consult on development projects and what have you... in short, because I am successful in the "real" world... and know when to shut up about my experiences in the Otherworld- well, no one thinks I am crazy. Well, perhaps Tao does, but his voice is drowned out in the majority that just sees me as a slightly eccentric (i.e., therefore normal) professor and anthropologist.
I will conclude that Tao's assumptions about finding God are, at least in my case, inaccurate. I was neither indoctrinated from birth nor did I reject or lose God to find God. Instead, I personally
experienced what I call God from, basically, birth. I do not remember a time I was not in connection to the world of Spirit. My ideas, my beliefs... these are a result of this "walking between worlds." And this is nothing new. This was the path of my ancestors. So... I didn't find God. I never forgot God to begin with.
