World Religions – What’s That Smell?

There is no question that humans are unique among living things in possessing a rich communications vehicle like language. However, by itself, this is insufficient to explain why such a thing should exist, so it might be useful to examine what is it that makes humans unique among animals?

Often we hear arguments about consciousness, or intelligence, or some other element, but to my mind these are too vague to be of much use, since we often see similar capabilities among animals that do not possess a language. But one word can unite a people, can define beliefs.

Creeping like moonlight inside the dark recesses of the English language there is one word which unites Catholics and Protestants, Jews and Muslims, believers and non-believers, a word so powerful there is no cult or sect it does not hold in its putrid embrace. True power is embodied in one four-letter word. The word is shit.

BELIEF SYSTEMS