A culture that requires evidence within its very language

[cardw]

The Piraha are a tribal culture in Brazil that has 10 to the 16th power of verb forms in their language.

One of three significant forms are used in every statement of witnessed experience. For example if someone saw a man go fishing they would qualify this by the type of evidence. They would use a verb to either say they saw it or someone told them about it or they deduced it.

This is so profoundly ingrained in their experience that they have resisted conversion to Christianity for centuries. They are completely dedicated to only believing what they can deduce based on witnessed evidence. They are naturally atheists. They are also rated the happiest culture on the planet because they spend over 70 percent of their waking time either laughing or smiling.

Here is a link to a detailed talk by Daniel Everett on his attempts to convert the Piraha and his eventual de-conversion.

Daniel Everett on the Piraha

After watching this it may make us wonder what value there is in fearing things that we have no direct evidence of such as a second coming or the destruction of the earth or other fearful beliefs that Christianity teaches.

[cricket]

I may not have time to watch this right now, but I am curious as to how they feel about death and dying. Is there grief attached to the witnessing of such events?