I totally disagree with the statement that belief in God promoted the evolution of cooperation. I think natural inclinations of socialization and the fact that humans are more successful as a group is what did the trick...
Although the statement could have just been bad journalistic writing... Damon. ------------------------------------------------------------ Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Trumpeter's Marder I auf GW 38(h) Sent from my BlackBerry wireless handheld. ------------------------------------------------------------ Sent from my BlackBerry wireless handheld. -----Original Message----- From: Dave Land <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2007 02:44:13 To:Killer Bs Discussion <brin-l@mccmedia.com> Subject: Religion is Valuable: Why it Must Be Encouraged Folks, From Nature: Religious Concepts Promote Cooperation Effect seems to work regardless of a person's beliefs. A belief in God may have promoted the evolution of cooperative behaviour, say Canadian psychologists. They found that priming people with religious concepts makes them more generous — regardless of whether they declare themselves to be believers. Notions of civic responsibility also promote cooperation, suggesting that religion might encourage altruism by invoking an omniscient judge of behaviour. More at http://www.nature.com/news/2007/070723/full/070723-6.html The point being that religion -- whether you consider it the core of your being or a mental illness, is beneficial to humankind. If it is a delusion, it is a pro-social delusion. Dave _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
