The Evolution of God

Robert Wright discusses his new book, "The Evolution of God."

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• robert-wright
• god
• evolution
• religion
• globalization
• nonzero

[Cardsplayer4life]

Can't wait for the book to come out!

[rhyfelur]

This book is spot on, with regards to the correlation between mans socioeconomic evolution and the evolution of religion, imo.

Mr.Wright is a brlliant mind and It really bugs me when some atheists trash him for not shouting "there is no God" from the rooftops. It just proves that theists dont have a monopoly on narrow mindedness.

[brindow1]

He said no religion is intrinsically violent..has he not heard of Islam? This religion mutilates little girls genitalia causing excruciating pain and blood squirting all over the place..HOW is that not "bad"? Were you not aware of this MODERN DAY PRACTICE or had you forgotten ?

[spadesiesokay1]

ecological/sociological mad men 

[1Skeptik1]

IMHO - First half of the book was excellent, as for the remainder, set it aside about 3/4 through. Larger purpose = wishful thinking.

[ManyInfiniteComments]

What i find difficult to take seriously, is this "conjecture" on the basis of what? Which "conjecture" are we talking about? We can take it to mean a religious moral philosophy based on a group of people that lived thousands of years ago. How about a new "conjecture", humans are able to shape their lives and surroundings because they have become increasingly critical of what is real and what is speculation.

[ManyInfiniteComments]

Im sorry, but Wright is completely wrong. Religion is not outside of the human realm just like pseudo science is not outside of the human realm. You could say that for critical science as well, except that two of these philosophies are based on superstition, nonsense, and based less facts, while one of them is the pursuit of the truth regardless how illogical or meaningless things might seem to us.

[TonyWilson1000]

Here RW tries to argue that religion, on its own, is neutral. Whether it has a positive or negative impact depends on external factors (i.e., on whether believers are in zero sum conflict with non-believers). Really? So the doctrines of jihad and martyrdom in Islam are simply functionally inert-- with no more inherent tendency to create war than Jainism? Wright is the kind of apologist that Sam Harris' work demolishes.

[rhyfelur]

@fctchk Yes, how dare he contemplate outside of the test tube. Btw, how's the whole telling people to "stop feeling that there is more to the universe that just a random collection of atoms" thing working out for you? Banging the drum about how wrong people has been completely ineffective towards a solution to any of the problems you cite in your next comment. Maybe explaining why people have these intuitions instead of mocking them is a better approach

[fctchk]

Oh, and by the way, yes, there can be a purpose. And, guess who determines it? None other than homo sapiens - who has been doing it all along, all be it messily - now isn't that a liberating thought? So as soon as we stop fellating popes, preachers, prophets, gurus and other frauds, perhaps we can get a bit more focused on it and, say, for starters, end population growth, hunger, poverty, disease and lack of education all at the cost of a few years worth of the world's military expenditure.

[fctchk]

@rhyfelur When a scientist or otherwise intelligent individual contemplates something that runs counter to reason on top of presenting NO EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER they file it under "not likely with a probability bordering on certainty”. They do not go around badgering adults the likes of D. Dennet and S. Pinker with their unresolved childhood Magic Skydaddy Purpose Provider™ issues. For a full appreciation of Mr. Wright's unresolved childhood MSPP™ issues, see his interview on Bill Moyers Journal.

[rhyfelur]

@fctchk You are right, religions don't ask questions...people do, and religions are a result of people trying to answer those questions. He is not saying that religion is right, just that its too early to rule out some sort of higher purpose to the universe.If you rule out that possibility, just because its counter-intuitive to your viewpoint, then you are wearing the same blinders that theists wear, only looking the other direction.