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Homebrewed Christianity

After The Birth of God with LeRon Shults

May 1, 2015
LeRon Shults, a theology and philosophy professor at the University of Agder, dives into the evolution of religion and atheism, addressing the controversies sparked during his previous appearance. He discusses how cognitive biases, rooted in survival instincts, shape belief systems and influence societal challenges like racism and sexism. Shults advocates for understanding the biocultural evolution of religious beliefs and critiques various theological perspectives while emphasizing the impact of these beliefs on contemporary ethical dilemmas and environmental actions.
01:21:47

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Humans possess cognitive mechanisms that drive pattern recognition and agency attribution, fostering both survival instincts and religious beliefs.
  • Religion strengthens group identity through shared narratives about supernatural agents, which can create harmful biases against out-groups.

Deep dives

The Evolutionary Basis of God Concepts

Humans have evolved cognitive mechanisms that predispose them to recognize patterns and assign agency, which historically facilitated survival. This hyperagency detection device leads people to attribute natural phenomena to supernatural agents, a survival trait inherited from ancestors who benefited from overly cautious assumptions. In a modern context, these cognitive tendencies can reinforce religious beliefs, often resulting in a heightened sense of group identity and a tendency to view the world through the lens of in-group versus out-group dynamics. However, while these evolved instincts historically promoted social cohesion, they can also foster divisions and biases that are increasingly detrimental in today's pluralistic societies.

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