Religious Life of Planet Earth Criteria Employed

¶ … Religious Life of Planet Earth

Criteria Employed to Identify Religious Behavior

Based on what we already know about religion in other parts of the cosmos, we will consider the following criteria to be indicative of religiosity on Earth: (1) Ritualistic prayer; (2) Symbolic rules that have no apparent utility or function beyond symbolism; (3) Ceremonial sacrifices (Sagan, 2002). Previous experience suggests that most religions are theistic and that the hallmarks of theistic religiosity are rituals used to demonstrate, reinforce, and transmit traditions to successive generations; symbolic rules that have no functional purpose beyond their symbolic value; and sacrifices meant to appease or thank imaginary supreme beings (Armstrong, 2003). While there are other forms of religiosity that involve more complex spirituality than presumed direct relationships between "gods" and living beings or causal relationships between the pleadings of living beings and natural events, for the purpose of a preliminary investigation, the foregoing criteria are sufficiently represented in religions as to warrant their use, at least initially.

Three Examples of Apparent Religious Behaviors or Beliefs on Earth

1. We have identified apparent houses of worship in almost every region of Earth that is inhabited. While there are numerous superficial differences among them (such as design, exterior symbols, and patterns of use), they are unmistakable in their function. For example, in many regions, the most common facilities of this type bear a common symbol consisting of a single vertical line bisected by a single horizontal line approximately two-thirds of the way to the top of the vertical line. Typically, this symbol appears on the outside of the structures and also on the garments worn by the apparent leaders of the groups utilizing them. Moreover, these structures seem to be used identically irrespective of geographical separation. Generally, each of them is filled with apparent religious worshippers every seventh terrestrial orbital and utilized on a more individualized basis during the interim between larger gatherings.

In other regions of the Earth, there are comparatively few structures of this sort and more domed structures. An entirely different pattern of use has been observed. Specifically, the domed structures are frequented much more often and on a daily basis. It appears that only one gender (identified by garb and behavioral mannerisms) frequents the domed structures whereas both genders apparently frequent the other type of structure. It also appears that garments worn on the extremities are removed before entering the domed structure in conjunction with a ritualistic cleansing with liquid hydrogen monoxide.

2. In certain parts of the Earth (including those populated by the domed structures), we observed apparent ritualistic sacrifices consistent with similar practices we have observed elsewhere in the cosmos in connection with religiosity. Specifically, we observed the slaughter of species typically raised for consumption without consumption. Instead of being slaughtered and then butchered, consumed, or preserved for future consumption, the objects of slaughter are immolated in conjunction with ritualistic dances and chanting by the members of the groups involved, or erected into symbolic structures and simply left to the elements. Based on our prior investigation of similar behaviors, it appears that these rituals are intended either as symbolic gestures of gifts meant for supreme beings or as actual gifts meant for consumption by supernatural beings as part of displays of gratitude or pleas for future benefits conferred by those supernatural beings onto the groups involved.

3. We have identified apparent cyclical rituals that coincide with various celestial patterns such as seasonal solstices (Armstrong, 2003; Sagan, 2002). While the observed rituals do not appear to be associated with harvests as often observed elsewhere, the timing seems consistent with those rituals having at least evolved from those connections originally (Armstrong, 2003; Sagan, 2002). In that regard, we have observed cyclical erection of colorful displays at the same time in every solar orbital cycle, particularly in regions populated with the physical structures bearing the symbol previously described. We also observed apparent mass gatherings at those times in addition to dramatically increased use of the physical structures used for gatherings every seventh day throughout the rest of the year.