In a previous post, I argue that humans have evolved unique
categories of needs and motivations not shared with other animals. One of these I call ‘legacy drive’. This is a central theme in my recent book
(Aarssen 2015), where I interpret religion as a fundamental domain for
legacy. Here I have posted an excerpt
from the book.
“The human individual knows that he must die, but has
thoughts larger than his fate. … Religion is an effort to be included in some
domain larger and more permanent than mere existence.”
— Feibleman (1963)
— Feibleman (1963)
A sense of legacy from religion is associated of course with
faith in doctrines that promise some kind of afterlife. Belief in a future life fulfills what Sigmund
Freud (1928) recognized to be “… the oldest, strongest and most insistent wish
of mankind”. As discussed in Chapter 4
[in Aarssen 2015], evidence from paleoanthropology strongly suggests that the
imaginations of our ancestors were sufficiently creative for conjuring such
superstitions and cultivating them in symbolisms and rituals dating from at
least 50 thousand years ago. In the
words of Malinowski (1931), “Religion … can be shown to be intrinsically
although indirectly connected with man’s fundamental, that is, biological
needs. Like magic it comes from the
curse of forethought and imagination, which fall on man once he rises above
brute animal nature.”
Organized religion is of course still very alive and well
today, with many dozens of main varieties to choose from — providing
reassurance, for the faithful, that the ‘self’ need not be impermanent, even
while knowing that the body is. This is
the so-called transcendent, or ‘vertical’ component of the fitness benefit of
religion, both ancestrally and today — i.e. as a domain for legacy, through
everlasting life of the ‘soul’. As
Kaufman (1958) put it, “Man is the ape that wants to be a god.” Even the most devoutly religious people know,
however, that all religions are just delusions (except one, of course).
For our ancestors, as well as today, organized religion has
also had an important ‘horizontal’ component: congregational affiliation. Worship-ping memberships like churches,
synagogues, mosques, and temples can provide at least three significant
benefits for genetic fitness:
(i) by reinforcing one’s confidence in the ‘vertical’
component (i.e. ‘our God and his promises of salvation must be real if there
are so many fellow believers’);
(ii) as a vehicle for bolstering self-esteem (in terms of
membership within a ‘larger-than-self’ cultural world-view), and a sense of
memetic legacy (from attainment of social status/power through personal
testimony before fellow parishioners, and personal accomplishment in the
business of the religious institution);
(iii) by serving as an incentive to behave in ways that
promote pro-social reciprocal exchange benefits of group membership — e.g. by
not stealing, lying, murdering, etc. — because the threatened consequences of
transgression involve not only shaming by the group against the perpetrator
(and hence compromising one’s intrinsic ‘need to belong’), but also banishment
of the soul to eternity in a bad place (e.g. hell). What was good for the prosperity of the
social group was good for the gene transmission success of resident members.
Our ancestors probably also enjoyed an additional, perhaps
even more ancient, benefit from belief in the supernatural: answers (when no
practical ones could be found) regarding the mysteries of life and nature —
thus satisfying the restless human curiosity, and calming fears of the unknown. The answers here were of course interpreted
in terms of favours, judgements and interventions of a ‘higher power’,
involving spiritualism and/or deity. And
the early shamans, priests, prophets, and their esteemed disciples, were also
likely to have enjoyed elevated social status and greater attractiveness to
potential mates.
Abundant evidence now indicates that attraction to
religiosity has a partial genetic basis, and that religious people generally
have more children than non-believers (Rowthorn 2011). A predilection for superstitions then is in
our genes. Religiosity, for those who
‘believe’ (and ‘behave’ accordingly), is not only an effective
self-impermanence anxiety buffer (calming the intrinsic fear of failed legacy); it can also calm general fears of the unknown
and unexplained, and promote social order and cohesion — group prosperity — and
hence individual prosperity of resident members. Plus — because public dedication as a
‘follower’ normally evokes trust from other in-group members — religion
bolsters one’s local reputation, including with potential benefits through mate
attraction. All of it delivered genetic
fitness for ancestors.
Religiosity then is a fairly obvious cultural product of
natural selection. Interpre-tations of
its evolutionary roots have been explored in no less than 18 recent books
(published in the span of just a decade) [Box 10.1; in Aarssen 2015].
The old debates, therefore, between evolution and creationism (still active in some realms) are misguided; creationism is not in conflict with evolution — it is a product of it.
The old debates, therefore, between evolution and creationism (still active in some realms) are misguided; creationism is not in conflict with evolution — it is a product of it.
References
Aarssen LW (2015) What Are we? Exploring the evolutionary
roots of our future. Queen’s University,
Kingston.
Feibleman JK (1963) Mankind Behaving: human needs and material culture. Charles C Thomas, Springfield.
Freud S (1928) The Future of an Illusion. Hogarth Press, London.
Kaufmann W (1958) Critique of Religion and Philosophy. Harper and Row, New York.
Malinowski B (1931) The role of magic and religion. In: Reader in Comparative Religion (Lessa WA, Vogt EZ, eds). Row Peterson, Evanston, IL.
Rowthorn R (2011) Religion, fertility and genes: a dual inheritance model. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 278: 2519–2527.
ReplyDeleteAlso known to come with crucial offerings for its sensible, down-to-earth and important clients,Russian Call Girls in Lucknow really means in fulfilling their lives with cheerful moments to make love in concern to ensure them live their lives in abetter way. Check our other Services...
Russian Escorts in Goa
Russian Escorts in Lucknow
Housewife Escorts in Lucknow
Russian Call Girls in Lucknow
Russian Escorts in Goa
Russian Escorts in Goa
Thank you because you have been willing to share information with us. we will always appreciate all you have done here because I know you are very concerned with our. yagya
ReplyDeleteI haven’t any word to appreciate this post.....Really i am impressed from this post....the person who create this post it was a great human..thanks for shared this with us. CBD for Asthma: Ultimate Guide
ReplyDeleteIt is a great website.. The Design looks very good.. Keep working like that!. Full Spectrum CBDfx Vape Pens
ReplyDeleteThis blog is so nice to me. I will keep on coming here again and again. Visit my link as well.. best small tower speakers
ReplyDeleteThere are a lot of blogs over the Internet. But I can surely say that your blog is amazing in all. It has all the qualities that a perfect blog should have. cbd oil tincture
ReplyDeleteI havent any word to appreciate this post.....Really i am impressed from this post....the person who create this post it was a great human..thanks for shared this with us. best cbd vape oil
ReplyDeleteWonderful article. Fascinating to read. I love to read such an excellent article. Thanks! It has made my task more and extra easy. Keep rocking. cbd products
ReplyDeleteGood artcile, but it would be better if in future you can share more about this subject. Keep posting. cheap cbd gummies
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking the time to publish this information very useful! Consumer reports
ReplyDeleteI found your this post while searching for some related information on blog search...Its a good post..keep posting and update the information. Buying Guides
ReplyDeleteI appreciated your work very thanks Buying Guides
ReplyDeleteI think this is an informative post and it is very useful and knowledgeable. therefore, I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article. best website this year
ReplyDeleteYou have a real ability for writing unique content. I like how you think and the way you represent your views in this article. I agree with your way of thinking. Thank you for sharing. topdailyguide buyers guide
ReplyDeleteI got what you mean , thanks for posting .Woh I am happy to find this website through google. bestcheapro
ReplyDeleteIt was a very good post indeed. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it in my lunch time. Will surely come and visit this blog more often. Thanks for sharing. home appliances
ReplyDeletePositive site, where did u come up with the information on this posting?I have read a few of the articles on your website now, and I really like your style. Thanks a million and please keep up the effective work. Marijuana Edibles
ReplyDeleteCreate drives, reconnect past clients, and makes deals, by investing time and energy into making a compelling product dispatch email. how to take cbd
ReplyDeleteThe motivator. Regardless of whether you send it with the clue or with the fundamental product dispatch email, including an impetus brings the clients who are bought in to your mailing list into a special hover with added benefits. how long does cbd oil last in the fridge
ReplyDeleteI am very enjoyed for this blog. Its an informative topic. It help me very much to solve some problems. Its opportunity are so fantastic and working style so speedy. aromaterapia
ReplyDeleteI admire this article for the well-researched content and excellent wording. I got so involved in this material that I couldn’t stop reading. I am impressed with your work and skill. Thank you so much. Buying Guide
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteExcellent article. Very interesting to read. I really love to read such a nice article. Thanks! keep rocking. Motorcycle Clothing
ReplyDeleteI would like to say that this blog really convinced me to do it! Thanks, very good post. kids boxing gloves
ReplyDeleteI recently found many useful information in your website especially this blog page. Among the lots of comments on your articles. Thanks for sharing. silicone bibs
ReplyDeleteI am thankful to you for sharing this plethora of useful information. I found this resource utmost beneficial for me. Thanks a lot for hard work. كوبون خصم اي هيرب
ReplyDeleteYour articles are inventive. I am looking forward to reading the plethora of articles that you have linked here. Thumbs up! chew beads
ReplyDeleteThanks for your insight for your fantastic posting. I’m exhilarated I have taken the time to see this. It is not enough; I will visit your site every day. bille de dentition
ReplyDeleteI was reading some of your content on this website and I conceive this internet site is really informative ! Keep on putting up. queens marijuana dispensary
ReplyDeleteI can see that you are an expert at your field! I am launching a website soon, and your information will be very useful for me.. Thanks for all your help and wishing you all the success in your business. Innosilicon A11 Pro
ReplyDeleteWow! Such an amazing and helpful post this is. I really really love it. It's so good and so awesome. I am just amazed. I hope that you continue to do your work like this in the future also nike running shoe reviews
ReplyDeleteExcellent article. Very interesting to read. I really love to read such a nice article. Thanks! keep rocking. industrial infrared heaters
ReplyDeleteInteresting topic for a blog. I have been searching the Internet for fun and came upon your website. Fabulous post. Thanks a ton for sharing your knowledge! It is great to see that some people still put in an effort into managing their websites. I'll be sure to check back again real soon. kitchen tapware
ReplyDeleteAll the contents you mentioned in post is too good and can be very useful. I will keep it in mind, thanks for sharing the information keep updating, looking forward for more posts.Thanks silver charms and beads
ReplyDeleteThis is just the information I am finding everywhere. Thanks for your blog, I just subscribe your blog. This is a nice blog.. weed for sale
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI’m going to read this. I’ll be sure to come back. thanks for sharing. and also This article gives the light in which we can observe the reality. this is very nice one and gives indepth information. thanks for this nice article... spunlace nonwoven fabric
ReplyDeleteThere are plenty of dissertation web pages internet as you're get hold of of course revealed in the web-site. iqos
ReplyDeleteThis is certainly as well a really good posting we seriously experienced looking through. It is far from on a daily basis we have risk to check out a little something. 加熱菸
ReplyDeleteI read that Post and got it fine and informative. 5e drugs
ReplyDeletehow to take cbd oil vs cbd vape I appreciated your work very thanks
ReplyDeleteVery useful post. This is my first time i visit here. I found so many interesting stuff in your blog especially its discussion. Really its great article. Keep it up. ks kurve
ReplyDeletePositive site, where did u come up with the information on this posting?I have read a few of the articles on your website now, and I really like your style. Thanks a million and please keep up the effective work. https://www.kardinalsticksiam.com/
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteis responsible for his deeds on the planet. The ramifications of this confidence is that financial decisions one makes in world are to be decided by the standards Allah has set down. Islamic quotes about life
ReplyDeletehis site seems to inspire me a lot. Thank you so much for organizing and providing this quality information in an easy to understand way. I think that a healthy era of big data can be maintained only when such high-quality information is continuously produced. And I, too, are working hard to organize and provide such high-quality information. It would be nice to come in once and get information.
ReplyDeleteAlso visit my site:사설토토
Thank you a bunch for sharing this with all of us you actually realize what you are talking about! Bookmarked. Please also seek advice from my site =). We could have a hyperlink change contract between us! website
ReplyDeleteImpressive web site, Distinguished feedback that I can tackle. Im moving forward and may apply to my current job as a pet sitter, which is very enjoyable, but I need to additional expand. Regards. umrah packages
ReplyDeleteLove to read it,Waiting For More new Update and I Already Read your Recent Post its Great Thanks. python course london
ReplyDeleteI concluded today was not a day for battling traffic, to make a plunge front of me, they are free to do as such. Our Daily Manna for Today
ReplyDeleteRegardless of whether you're purchasing straightforwardly from a business online retailer, an individual web based shopping webpage, or an Internet closeout website, shopping on the web can be fun, basic, efficient and prudent.snow glare
ReplyDeletesnow glare sunglasses
prayers I would like to say that this blog really convinced me to do it! Thanks, very good post.
ReplyDeleteA very awesome blog post. We are really grateful for your blog post. You will find a lot of approaches after visiting your post. Las mejores freidoras sin aceite de 2022
ReplyDelete