That may be true for "normal" people, but not true for me as a high-functioning Asperger's syndrome person.

Except that the trend now is away from that. The group bonds in my 'hood are extremely weak; we've been temporarily brought together somewhat lately by a freak spate of deadly illnesses, but mostly people's relationships are work and hobby based. I would guess maybe a third of my neighbors are any kind of church goers. And some who are, have a lot of ambivalence, like the Catholics next door to me who are barely staying with the Church in the face of constant pedophilia revelations.

I don't see anyone in my orbit seeing God as a surrogate for those bonds, they are simply looking for them in different places from churches more than in the past.

I suspect it'd be more accurate to say that theism provided a shared belief or experience in a less enlightened age that facilitated powerful social cohesion. One of the downsides of the rise of the "nones" is whatever theism they still hold to is no longer providing that cohesion. Couple this with increasing churn in the work market where people change jobs almost like they change clothes; the "gig economy"; the lack of free time for volunteer or avocational activities; and what is left ... school maybe for the youngsters, pale imitations like social media and not a lot else.

And that's how we created the gods!

You're right. Yehhhhh

You always find the best books! Thanks.

Disagree.
Can't stand these ridiculous theories.

So he became an invisible friend. To think children are sometimes ridiculed about having one!

Cogitamus ergo sum