is religion a product of evolution?

I tend to favour the other camp, where it's a bi-product of earlier mental functions; specifically the fine attunement to interpreting intent in other humans and animals, as a way of discerning threats. This intent would be attributed to all sorts of natural forces, such as volcanoes, good/bad harvests, droughts and floods. Each would be seen as a hidden being, in the image of an animal or human, that makes the event happen.

However, it's also possible that both ideas have elements of truth. Complex functions can come from simpler progenitor ones. Complexity of society would have arisen after, and as a result of, earlier more instinctive societies.

For a concept like deities to arise in the first place, there would still need to be some sort of intellectual seed, something that would be common across the species. That would imply something based on instinct, hence the idea of reading intent. As society became more sophisticated, the intentional invisible beings would develop into a pantheon of personalities and capriciousness. An early soap opera!

Either way, I agree that evolution is involved. Indeed, our very intellectual progress can be seen as a form of evolution in action.

On the contrary, evolution is a product of religion. What came first the chicken or the egg?

With all of the scientific research done, man still has not figured it out. 'Who are we, and why are we here'. Great minds have pondered over this dilemma, 'the problem of being'. Yes! I know you are going to say, that is why we evolved religion right!

Are you so sure? Have we ever figured out the Universe. All the 'thinking and talking heads' are still at a loss! We can talk until the proverbial cows come home, but you will never figure it out.

You mention 'Dow', has he figured out exactly why the brain functions. Has any scientist, created a living brain lately?

The only way, is through FAITH. This is spiritual. God is spiritual. Think outside the 'box'.

A good book on this subject, and written by a scientist is

well product of evolution ofcourse, as man stopped following the herds, they became farmers and herders. Prior to civilization, i'm sure everything was a god. So when did monotheism take hold? The question I ask is, are there any groups or tribes that have absolutely no religious belief?

that is funny I agree we are de-evolving. Evolution exist and is easily proven by birds, as some species survived by finding other food sources they lost the use of wings, essentially an auck or penguin now. the galapagos island is teaming with evolution and de evolution of species.

Perhaps calling it "religion" isn't particularly helpful. Herd mentality is a better perspective because it is also in tune with the psychological notions of mass hysteria or simply mass agenda or some type of mass movement.

Being part of the larger collective consciousness inevitably produces successful life outcome more so than the hermetic opposite because an individual can rely on more than just themselves. Like Jesus said, where two or more gather, "I am" there. But in any case, this collective identity may clash with individual identity, and if your in the out, then your out (salem witch trials is a good example).

But then again, blind leading the blind also comes into the monte carlo of so called religion. Just because you put two or more people together doesn't mean that they'll be 3 times as smart; rather, it could be just the opposite. But the monte carlo randomness factor is isolated and eliminated by itself in theory, so it just leaves the potential for a group to be misled by itself naturally.

Usually, the more people you have, the more experience you can draw on, the more physical load you can bear, etc, etc... So inevitably, following the herd wins out in the long run. What you have to watch out for is trending, because that is a way to get to the very top, or the very bottom of a pine box depending on your view of the pope.

Fundamentally, blind even insane hope and belief. The ability of a man, when confronted with the prospect of lifting a car off of his child. Do you see faith here? The brain produces a signal that gives him or her super human physical strength for that one momentous heave; and thus, the child is saved, but the back and the knees will never forgive...

So, survival through mass communication, AND enhanced super human strength... Hmm, sounds like a winning one two combo for that massive brain region that when seizuring causes people to stand out on the street corner with a bullhorn...

Oh, and "abstract God" really betrays the author's perspective in this instance it seems. For myself, the concept of God is in NO WAY abstract; more like infinitely pointalistic- like a good calculus solution. It just fits, everything cancels so nicely, the solution of solutions: God made me do it- God told me to kill my children... It's amazing that the defense for that woman didn't work. I mean, she argued WITH the masses backing up her corner (religiously that is), but nevertheless fell because following a religion doesn't imply insanity, but rather the opposite. How's that for a biblical prophecy or rather irony? But therein lies the rub, what if God really did tell her to kill her children, and we messed it up??? Oh abraham, the ultimate story of the Godfather, as it appeared over 2000 years ago, and still we're making people offers they can't refuse today.

It certainly appears to be. see Scott Atran, Pascal Boyer for fascinating introductions to the evolutionary anthropology of religion. And, of course, Dennett's "Breaking the Spell" is highly recommended.

Clearly.

If Jews shunned birth control like Catholics, they would rule the world. That's just one example of a subspecies not being optimally "fit" to populate the world.

Scientology survives because of its aggressive cult-like tactics in a way that out-competes the Amish.

Even though there are problems with verifiable evidence concerning the existence of a god, I do engage in conversatsations and argue with a spirit that claims to be God Almighty.

It is a very long story. It is diagnosed as schizophrenia.But, it is also a fact.

He is alot smarter than I am. But, not to try and convince you. Just so that you could have been told.

Danger Mouse likes Joseph Campbell's, "The Power of Mythology".

We do seem to need a boost once in a while and religion provides the extra umph to succeed. When no one is available, a man needs to pray to gather his strength. So whether it is true or not, what does it matter? It is a viable force: one that developed as a basic human need.

Evolution is a product of religion. If religious leaders had any backbone they would teach to truth to people rather than what they want to hear. The bible is very straight forward by saying God CREATED all things leaving no room for evolution. There are many other thing these leaders have not stood up for but that is for another time.