The Inca Religion
Human search for meaning
Why do humans, like the ancient Incas turn to religion for a sense of meaning ? because believing in a set of guidelines without evidence far betters believing in nothing at all.
A reason we humans respond to the search for meaning with religion, is because we are taught to do so. Society continually aids us in our search for meaning. Unlike science “religion doesn’t sit back and relax and let the world go its own way”. It intervenes. Religion enforces rules on how we must think and behave. The Incas way of life and strict beliefs gave them a sense of meaning and understanding to the way things occured.
Another reason we distinctively rely on religion, is because religion provides concrete responses to questions that have continued to boggle the human mind for centuries. There is the notion that science can only answer the how questions while religion can answer the why. Science can tell us how chemicals bond but only religion can answer; why we have a universe like this at all? Also the wall of science is filled with holes, the unexplainable, a problem religion doesn’t face. The term ‘god’ can solely answer any question one may have about the universe. The Incas answered their search for meaning through their gods like Viracocha creating the universe just like some of us as Christians believe our god created the world.
Another aspect one must consider is the type of response religion provides us with. It paints a paradise like picture, giving us a perfect portrayal of a dream like world. It showers us with hope. The Incas Worshiped beings linked to the natural world: rocks, mounds, springs, lakes, caverns, and hills. Reliance on these beings was of paramount importance. Worship involved sacrifice and was coupled with the desire to please their gods who created the world for them.
Today just like the Ancient Inca's we are still confined in a life with questions. So as humans we turn to religion to provide a path that brings comfort and hope as opposed to one of science that consists of facts but is missing bits of pavement that leaves humans simply with more questions.



By Bianca Oneill