I think they were mostly onto the fact that we have better odds of surviving and thriving if we aren't raping, killing, or stealing. At least within our own group. Obviously there are many examples of those principles not applying externally. That's for every major religion I know of.

Love is one interpretation of property rights. I would steal from someone I love. So I might 'love' my neighbor in that sense.

*wouldn't

It’s not just history or religions, out of body experiences, trips, everyone reports basically the same universal feeling of love, describing a sense of selflessness. People were more religious and open to spiritual concepts.

I’m sure what you refer to was also part of it. But I don’t think that’s what the major religions refer to. Maybe at one level but not deeper meaning.

You can't really get to deeper meaning until you stop living barbarically. I think those ideas started there but developed as we matured and formed societies. It's much easier for me to love beyond my immediate circle than it would be without basic principles like not stealing or killing lightly.

Even in barbaric tribes they would have experimented with substances, shroom, herbs and whatnot (I’m not an expert on those things) so it’s possible the village shaman did have some deeper insights to offer.

Sure, but they also hadn't developed alternatives. Of course people are more likely to be religious when they use that to explain most of the world around them. I also think religion and spiritual experience differ, but can occur simultaneously for some people. I have spiritual experiences frequently but I'm an atheist. There's no religion in it for me and I don't think it's mystical, but it's still beneficial for me.

I'm sure there have always been individuals who stood out within their culture and time. We never would have advanced otherwise. We also have historical records of such people. That doesn't mean it was the norm. But what I find encouraging is that those minorities were able to change all of human history even if it wasn't apparent in their time (or they were killed for it). I don't think it's anymore mystical than humans using what makes them unique from the animals. BUT, I do accept that there are likely things in the universe we don't understand and what seems like magic today could be a real part of physics, chemistry (etc) that we don't understand yet. I remain skeptical (in the common sense) but open to ideas.

🎯 The ego death experience confirms this