377. This is for the Anonymous Online Trolls | Dr. Gad Saad
The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast
The Evolution of Religion
Two primary approaches exist for understanding the evolution of religion: the adaptation approach and the ex-abtation approach. The adaptation approach explores the evolutionary advantages religion may confer, emphasizing survival and mating benefits for religious individuals. A prominent argument in this realm, voiced by David Sloan Wilson, posits that religious groups exhibit greater cohesion and cooperation, enhancing their survival prospects when compared to non-religious groups. In contrast, the ex-abtation approach identifies religion as a byproduct of evolutionary processes, asserting that it exploits neural systems originally evolved for other functions. Pascal Boye is a key figure associated with this perspective, arguing that the ease with which most individuals gravitate towards religion, regardless of their personal beliefs, can be understood through this lens. Additionally, the narrative surrounding religious figures can be framed within the context of cultural heritage and shared spirit, exemplified by the prophetic tradition in the Old Testament. This narrative reveals themes of moral responsibility and the complexities of conscience, as illustrated in the story of Jonah, who grapples with the divine call to engage with adversarial communities, reflecting the tension between self-interest and broader ethical imperatives.
