*A religious person is not in denial of his belief or trying to get rid of his religion. Therefore the religious cannot be characterised as addicted.*

Grateful, I think you will find that a great many religious people
have doubts sometimes, about what they believe. But there are huge
social pressures on people to keep believing and stay with their
faith. Think of JWs who are somewhat isolated by their religion
and lose their friendship circle and way of life, should they
change their mind. Many Muslims too, cannot openly renounce their
religion, for fear of persecution.

To understand brains and how they function a bit further, here
is a great place to start.

http://www.charlierose.com/view/collection/10702

I did in fact read 31 years by Ali Dashti, a Persian who grew
up as a Muslim and studied Islam. Unfortunately he died in
Kohmeini's jails.

Richard Dawkins has it about right here. Religion is very much
a question of geography. Most people simply accept the faith
that they were indoctrinated with, as a child. So if you were
born in Iraq, you'll most likely be a good Muslim and if you
were born in the US bible belt, you'll most likely be singing
the praises of the Jesus story. So geography seems to decide
about 95% of cases.

@ grateful, " Society would give up under the right conditions. It is fair to say that Islam succeeded in eliminating alcohol as a social disease and this has been because it has succeeded in having people willingly abstain from alcohol."

You realize of course, that "the right conditions" within Islam is the death penalty, don't you? In Saudi Arabia, you may incur the death penalty for:

*possession of alcohol;
*possession of a crucifix;
*possession of pornography.

These are rather extreme meassures to bring about abstinence.

Oops Grateful, I got it wrong, Ali Dashti's books was called
"23 years" I must have allowed for inflation :)

Anyhow, I finally found it in the book collection, I read it
some years ago. Dashti had all the training and was destined to
become an Islamic scholar, but changed direction and became
a journalist.

23 Years was all about Mohammeds life and how he cobbled
the Koran together. I found it pretty interesting, in terms
of understanding Islam.

MindlessCruelty <<These are rather extreme meassures to bring about abstinence.>>
Well the Wahhabi's are extreme.

Such measures were/are not necessary to bring about abstinance. They were not used in the time of the Prophet. In those times there were several revelations in the lead up to abstenance:

the first revelation stated that there is both benefit and harm in alcohol and gambling, but that the harm out-weighs the good;

the second verse instructed those who had been drinking not to come to the mosque (an important sanction because the mosque had become central to the community)

The third and final verse instructed Muslims to abstain from alcohol and gambling. When this verse was revealed it was reported that the streets were flowing with wine. People just quit the instant they heard the instruction.

Why just look at Saudi Arabia? Look at our Muslims neighbours, Indonesia and Malaysia, where the majority of Muslims live, as well as Muslims in Australia.

Anyway, as you yourself have said whenever governments try to ban alcohol, AGAINST the public's will, there will arise a blackmarket, and even greater drinking as in the days of Prohibition in U.S. The fact that this does NOT exist (or is very small) among Muslim communities indicates that the demand is simply not there to support it.

<<*A religious person is not in denial of his belief or trying to get rid of his religion. Therefore the religious cannot be characterised as addicted.*

Grateful, I think you will find that a great many religious people
have doubts sometimes, about what they believe. But there are huge
social pressures on people to keep believing and stay with their
faith. Think of JWs who are somewhat isolated by their religion
and lose their friendship circle and way of life, should they
change their mind. Many Muslims too, cannot openly renounce their
religion, for fear of persecution.>>

Well i came from a family of atheists and i can tell you there were enormous social pressures on me to give up my religion. You wouldn't believe how insistent people can be about drinking when they find out you are Muslim and do not drink.

<<To understand brains and how they function a bit further, here
is a great place to start.

http://www.charlierose.com/view/collection/10702>>

That looks interesting. thanks

<<Richard Dawkins has it about right here. Religion is very much
a question of geography. Most people simply accept the faith
that they were indoctrinated with, as a child. So if you were
born in Iraq, you'll most likely be a good Muslim and if you
were born in the US bible belt, you'll most likely be singing
the praises of the Jesus story. So geography seems to decide
about 95% of cases.>>

This is consistent with what the Prophet said: "No child is born except on Al-fitra and then his parents make him Jewish, Christian or Magian (Zoroastrian), as an animal produces a perfect young animal: do you see any part of its body amputated?"
(Narrated Abu-Huraira;Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 23, Number 441).

Al-fitrah refers to the natural disposition of the child, before being subject to the influences of his/her environment, which is belief.

*People just quit the instant they heard the instruction.*

Ah Grateful, if it were only so simple.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/this_world/3791889.stm

I remind you that Iran has the world's highest rates of heroin
addiction.

*This is consistent with what the Prophet said*

That is my point Grateful. The Koran gives you perceived certainty
about the world. For posters like Boaz, the Bible does it for
them. This reduces anxiety about life, which is good for feelgood
brain chemistry. Believers don't even have to worry about death,
for if they follow the rules, they will have a ticket to heaven.

All easily fixed! Wether it's really true or not hardly matters.
As long as people believe strongly enough, they will be less
anxious and more content. They have perceived certainty.