I’d say part of it is about mortality and legacy, part is about belonging to a tribe, and at least a little bit is just thinking genealogy is neat.
Mortality: no matter what a person’s faith and belief system might be, there is a drive to contribute being meaningful after death. A person’s future line is directly rooted to their ancestry, and that heritage has a bearing on how one views their legacy.
Belonging: Why do many who are adopted search for their birth parents? Even if a person is in a loving and inclusive tribe, they still yearn for knowing more about their tribe and who else might be in it. There is an instinctive level of security in having a large group that can rally to you at a time of need. Family ties are historically a strong fallback to threats from outside the tribe
I’d say part of it is about mortality and legacy, part is about belonging to a tribe, and at least a little bit is just thinking genealogy is neat.
Mortality: no matter what a person’s faith and belief system might be, there is a drive to contribute being meaningful after death. A person’s future line is directly rooted to their ancestry, and that heritage has a bearing on how one views their legacy.
Belonging: Why do many who are adopted search for their birth parents? Even if a person is in a loving and inclusive tribe, they still yearn for knowing more about their tribe and who else might be in it. There is an instinctive level of security in having a large group that can rally to you at a time of need. Family ties are historically a strong fallback to threats from outside the tribe