if you look at human anthropology... religion is a new thing but spirituality is not. Human beings have always believed of something greater. Think of it as a black box. It was(is) the answer to the questions we cannot figure out. Where did all these things we see come from? Where do the dead go? Where do the young come from? Who causes it to rain? e.t.c. Refer to my "known-knowns, known - unknowns" argument. we had a black box to answer the questions related to the "known - unknowns" aspect of our lives or the world we lived in. So back to around 10,000 years ago - humans started settling down. We had societies around agriculture and even laws came up. However, when humans tend to live together for a while - we have issues with each other. Someone steals someone else's camel or sheep. you sleep with someone else's daughter or even worse 'wife' and the all seeing God had to be reintroduced. so organized religion started taking it's place in ensuring that human beings lived "harmoniously" with each other. this has had many rounds of changes to get us to where we are. I actually think religion is useful... I think the belief in something greater makes us transcend our limitations. especially if your environment is really bad/detrimental for development!

a good way to think of it is - why he/she would want to regulate the use of your genitals? or refrain from thing such as shaving the hair on the side of your head only.

Oh! Lemme guess, it was a white man?

And also quotes that we bandy about liberally. It's stupid.

1.4 billion Shainese dont believe in anything but they live so harmoniously than the believers.

In fact if you add the figures in the entire far east then 2.5 billion strong are non believers.Did you know that Japan has the most virgin ladies past 30 years in the world, even Saudia cant match this, per capita!!!

Is religiousity(sic) the same as spirituality?