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I generally agree with this, but kept getting hung up on two things: 1) scientists have shown rather interesting brain activity in different regions during prayer, and 2) every society, seemingly unconnected from each other, has something akin to religion.

If it were just a power grab thousand years ago, how or why did others around the world get the same idea?

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There are a lot of personally useful things bundled into religion, prayer being one of them that at is core just looks like meditation, which doesn't necessarily require religion.

Strongly agree it's not just a power grab.. I think the power grab comes after rituals emerge and become common.

1) You mean there is some sort of placebo effect at play? Does this differ from what you see when you meditate? I would assume it differs somewhat at least?

2) A lot of people need something external to believe in, it gives them a sense of purpose and an explanation for what are essentially random lucky/unlucky events. It also gives political power.

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