A which came first question...

[LostUserName]

First time caller, long time listener! I love the show by the way!

Typical but expected
I was wondering what other's thought.
Which came first, Religion or law?

I have a few thoughts on the matter but I rather hold off on them for now.

[MalReynolds]

Law. Although debatable, I'm sure that some of the primitive cavemen, pre evolution wise (if you swing that way) would uphold certain standards. Hence, law. Then, when they develpoed higher thinking brains, the thought of religion certainly came from it.

Unless, you don't take stock in cavemen and that such. In which case, religion came first, because Eden was perfect and there was no need for law. There was, however, retribution, but that falls under a different category.

Long story short, it all depends on your beliefs.

I think law came first.

Mal

[jewpinthethird]

Law.

There is law and order in ever species. There is law and order amoung ants, bees, apes, monkeys and various other animals.

But as Mal said, it all depends on your beliefs.

[SotN]

Law is a requirement for religion. In every religion, there is some code of conduct, whether its a ceremonial burial or the ten commandments. And a code of conduct = law.

Dont listen to what those crappy Civilization game tell you! You need law before religion and building the Great Pyramids doesnt give you a free granary in each city on the continent!

[aleco]

Hehe^

I say they came at the same time. Unless you consider animals, if they had law.

[jazzmosis]

Religion is governed by a set of 'rules' (the commandments) therefore in order for a religion to be started laws must first be created to have the religion follow them.

In which case, there's no way religion could come before law.

[punkrockdabomb]

I think religion but it is an oppianin

[FishFishRevolution]

The point here would be to explain your opinion, like everyone else did.

[Tank101]

Well from accurate theories, mankind has pretty much concluded that there were animals in the prehistoric times before humans, animals have laws but do not have religion.

[LostUserName]

going off on the evolutionary theory, is it possible for primates to have a rudimentary belief system? (i.e. religion)

Either way, a firend of mine believes religion came first because how can you reinforce law without the help of a "higher" being? What right does one person have to tell another person how he/she should live? But a deity (for obvious reasons) could enforce these laws. Therefor religion is a requirement for law to exist.

But my standing is law comes first. Break a rule and the pack/village/city/whatever either kills you or makes you an outcast. And since we are "pack" animal (as in a social sense, not manual labor) being by yourself is no good.

[punkrockdabomb]

ok my oppinian is that there was no 1 to make the laws













o wait yes there was never mind