The Evolutionary Origins of Religious Belief: A Panel Discussion

On April 22, 2009, the Center for Inquiry-New York City and All Souls Unitarian Church co-sponsored a panel discussion on the evolutionary origins of religion. Why does religious belief persist? Is there a so-called God gene? What is the relationship between biological and cultural evolution in the development of human religion? How does unselfish behavior fit into the evolutionary mix?

These are a few of the questions explored by a panel that included Randy Thornhill, Distinguished Professor of Biology at the University of New Mexico, and David Sloan Wilson, Distinguished Professor of Biology at SUNY Binghamton. The panel was moderated by Austin Dacey, a philosopher and author who writes on issues at the intersection of ethics, religion, and biology.

For more:

www.centerforinquiry.net/nyc

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• evolution
• psychology
• secular
• unitarian
• panel
• centerforinquiry
• new
• york
• city
• religion

[LordSlag]

I disagree: There are exactly zero gods.

[lmiddleman]

To the folks recording the CFI videos: please tap into the audio console at the venue... it makes a huge difference!

[chiropra1]

The audio is horrible. What a shame.

[PeeGeeBeeDee]

HAHAHAHAHAHA

[wideawake123]

"Any person who BLOCKS others from rebuttal on their video comments is a CONTROL FREAK YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE" - BLAZERMISSY

The irony is lost on you...that you block comments on your own page.

"If I be struck blind to everything else, let me never be blind to my own hypocrisy"- Wideawake123

Goodbye.

[blaziermissy]

Sorry that you don't find it interesting, but I'll check on that title you mentioned.

Antispiritual? One trick pony?

Hmm...well I take your advice about the pony, but here's some for you:

Don't ride a good horse to death:)

[wideawake123]

I don't have an hour and a half to spend on this lecture missy, nor do I think it's healthy to hyper-focus on one thing. Whether it's the evolution of religion or society, neither gets my bills paid. I'll suggest a book for everyone here. Through the Year with Emmit Fox. A book of daily readings that is maybe a bit more enlighten than most anti-spiritualists like their information about people of faith. Don't be a one trick pony...be water.

[blaziermissy]

I really enjoyed this lecture but the last 6 minutes were unexpectedly VERY interesting!!!!!

[blaziermissy]

instinctual drift 31:29

Something I'm studying. I'm constantly reading about it and using a hand held recorder to collect my ideals and thought about it in connectio to religous belief.

If anyone cares to share ANY info about this topic message me. I'm interested:)

[blaziermissy]

earphones help with this audio.

[thawkeye24]

Fascinating topic; poor presentations; terrible audio.

[bcosten2007]

paraphrase of theory 2: religion and the belief in eternal life is the result of becoming self aware and realizing the inevitability of our death