Summary: Evolutionary Theories Of Religion

Improved Essays
Evolutionary theory of religion Evolutionary theories of religion supposed as posing a challenge to religious belief (Sosis & Kiper, 2013). Previous research explained religion as a naturalistic perspective, without call up the actual existence of supernatural agents or events (Bering, Cronk, Gray, Johnson, McCullough, Richerson & Sosis, 2007). According to Smith & Arrow (2010), evolutionists have created three theoretical camps that view religion as nonfunctional, functional, or dysfunctional. Nonfunctional theorists concluded that religion is not an adaptation but as an alternative to an evolutionary result of nonreligious adaptations (Smith & Arrow, 2010). Next, functional theorists said religion’s benefits compensate its costs in

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Throughout this course, we were exposed to many ideas about organism classification due to evolutionary linkages, survival of the fittest and random out comes. Charles Darwin’s evolutionary theory often creates conflicts with religious teachings in particular, Christianity; many Christians disagree with Darwin’s theory that “man is not the most supreme creature on earth, but humans just evolved from a single cell over long periods of time.” Faith is intangible; it could simply be a belief. Christianity is just a belief, which is the same as Charles Darwin’s evolutionary theory, since both of them cannot be proven; which means nobody is wrong, therefore we should be open minded to learn from them that way we could learn more about the world.…

    • 375 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    1. Thesis The discovery and acceptance of Natural Selection refutes Paley’s design argument. Beyond this, Natural Selection offers new conclusions to theological problems, most of which are atheistic. Despite these plausible solutions, a skeptical mindset towards atheism should be adopted since logical arguments still remain in favor of theism.…

    • 498 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Interrelation In Religion

    • 2080 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Judaism, Islam, and Christianity are often perceived as discordant with one another, providing conflicting perspectives on theology and worship. However, these three faiths are interrelated, even complementary, in terms of tradition, origin, and practice. This interrelation is no more apparent than in the narrative of Abraham and the binding of his son, Isaac/Ishmael, which was first recorded in Genesis 22. All three faiths view this story as significant, however there is a disjunction within the details of the narrative as well as what should be taken from the teachings. This paper will analyze these three faiths, by looking through the lens of Abraham’s story and will discuss how the narrative acts as both a unifying and an alienating force…

    • 2080 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In modern times religion and science are increasingly becoming viewed as incompatible, or at least non-overlapping. Damien Keown states that “Scientific discoveries, and theories such as evolution, have challenged many traditional Christian teachings…” at the expense of making them appear “...dogmatic, irrational, and backward-looking” (119). Despite its brief history in the West, Buddhism has gained increasing popularity in part due to its frequent portrayal as an exception to the conflict between scientific and spiritual thought. Proponents of this view—deemed “Buddhist Modernists” or “Secular Buddhists”—argue that Buddhism possesses certain qualities which make it compatible with a secular view of the world, while providing a source of purpose…

    • 1050 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    In what ways has the term "religion" been defined? Religion has been defined as a particular response to dimensions of life considered sacred, as shaped by institutional traditions. What are some of the different perspectives available for understand religion? There are three different perspectives for understanding religion; materialist, functional and faith. Materialist perspective states that humans invented religion.…

    • 196 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    B. Wilson outlines 5 possible hypotheses to explain the evolution of religion. Which one does he prefer? What about you? Wilson prefers the theory of treating religion like a social organism. Wilson says “By the end of my three-year journey, I was convinced that religious believers are essentially correct, when they describe their groups as like bodies and beehives.”…

    • 137 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    YEC About Religion

    • 158 Words
    • 1 Pages

    Hi Mung, # 106: _____________________________________________ "It is the YEC approach that drags religion into the discussion. YEC literally takes its cues from materialistic assumptions of unguided evolution. God would not do it that way." ____________________________________________ It is ID, OEC, YEC, and theistic evolutionism that drags religion into the discussion, in a wide range of spiritual formats.…

    • 158 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    For centuries, religion has been a topic of great debate and interest, stemming from the validity of ideals to reasons why people believe in it in the first place. Despite all the efforts over time to thwart religion, it has managed to remain as a prominent structure. One question that seems to always be brought to the table is how religion continues to exist in light of the continual advances of science. The reason religion continues to exist today is not because the furthering of science leads to disproving religion, but rather because religion addresses questions that currently not even the advances of science can answer, giving people a sense of unity and congregation based upon two key emotions: hope and fear.…

    • 1019 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    There are many beliefs about the origin of the universe. Many people believe that the world was created differently which creates a countless number of worldviews. For some, they refer to the Bible to get a better understanding of how the world came to be. The first two chapters of Genesis explain this belief. For others, they may choose to take a more scientific approach and attribute the creation to chemical and biological means.…

    • 843 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Caveman Logic

    • 993 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Caveman logic constantly pervades our lives. Humanity believes in anything from supposed coincidences to spiritual healing without a second thought. The logic that our ancestors used has tainted our ways of thinking, and has taken us farther from evolutionary progress. We cannot exclude ourselves from being susceptible to this flawed system of thinking due to its overwhelming presence in today’s world. Caveman logic is not something that I am exempt from, having turned to it for a large portion of my life.…

    • 993 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Cutting edge science within evolutionary psychology has begun to demonstrate traits previously considered uniquely human within nonhuman primates. Frands de Waal spoke on this subject saying, “Direct comparisons between people and animals are often seen as demeaning, even offensive” (Jeeves and Brown, 2009, 131). Thus, Christians have a duty to explore rather than be discouraged by such science. Exploration of evolutionary science can be useful to Christians, yet Christians must be discerning. At its core evolutionary psychology is a scientific discipline and does not aim to attach theological meaning.…

    • 1017 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Critical Analysis Paper # 3 Analysis of “Religion Gives Meaning to Life,” by Louis P. Pojman Introduction: In this article, “Religion Gives Meaning to Life,” Louis P. Pojman believes that religion, but mainly a theistic religion gives purpose and meaning to life. Pojman feels that, since people cannot prove that theism is true or not true, then therefore, people should live like theism is true. A world with theism, living life following a higher being would be a better world than living a life of self-governing, autonomy. Lastly, Pojman believes that living in autonomy is not really affected by having a religion or faith but instead religion may help everyone’s autonomy because they will have more purpose for their personal goals.…

    • 806 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    for some individuals, it appears to be coherency of worldview along with intensity of belief and certainty in this worldview (whatever it may be), which appears to contribute positively to well-being. Thus, not only can strong belief in God provide psychological benefits, but also can strong nonbelief in God (Galen, 2015). Uzdavines’s found that individuals who were more “closed” to the existence of gods (i.e., sure there are not any) reported less struggles than those who were more “open.” Is there any better way to prepare for a delicious Turkish meal served up with their famous Mediterranean hospitality than by attending an invited symposium on atheism? I would certainly doubt it.…

    • 830 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Sociology Of Religion

    • 1240 Words
    • 5 Pages

    My interest in the sociology of religion was first sparked while observing the differences and dichotomy in people 's behavior and orientation in the context of organized religions and spiritualities. Living for part of my life in Hong Kong, I have been aware of many scandals and controversies regarding various religion. Various news reports have indicated that some monks participate in activities that violate their beliefs in China, such as visiting prostitutes and abusing the donation system of their religious institutions for their personal benefit. Living in the United States in recent years, I 've also witnessed controversies within Christianity. Many of the ways in which religious organizations are institutionalized, at their very core, contradict many of the tenants they claim to support.…

    • 1240 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Why do groups of people need a religious system in order to form stable cultures and societies? In his address before the Farmington Trust, philosopher Edward Goldsmith argues the importance of religion as a control mechanism for a stable society. He discusses a philosophy in which, “(Religion) provides a goal, whose achievement must ensure the society’s stable relationship with its environment, and a means of achieving this goal, i.e. a ‘hierarchical organisation of instructions or guidelines.’” (Goldsmith) In order to illustrate this organization, provided for by religion, and vital to a stable society, aspects of Ancient Greek culture are highlighted.…

    • 1350 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays