Darwinist Theory of Religion

As expatiated in the previous text, cognitive scientists consent that religion is a result of outgrowth of brain architecture that advanced during human evolution. It is also agreed to, that religion evolved in order to enhance cooperation and cohesion among groups; in turn, multiplying individual’s chances of survival and reproduction. Even so, there are a few concerning issues which are contended. There are controversies upon the accurate approach that drove the evolution of religiosity.

The first perspective is that religion evolved due to natural selection and has selective advantages. It can be said that religion is the medium by which humans find a way of living. It is a path, they follow which have set rules; and they follow them. In the initial stages of civilizations, humans came across things and events; usual or unusual. They attempted to reason that out, deciding upon what is correct and inscribing it as a rule to be followed. This came about as an adaptation to that particular event. When many such events occurred, many directives were fabricated; and together they were a set of protocols and explanations that made up entire religions.

The second theory is that religion came into existence as an evolutionary byproduct of other adaptations.

Neurobiology of Religion

According to various theories, religiosity was a by-product of brain development in the course of human evolution. During evolution, the maximum expansion occurred in the neocortex of the brain, which is responsible for self-consciousness, language, emotion and higher-level cognition. There may be a direct relation of religiosity and spiritualism of the Homo species to the increased level of neurological complexity.  Once the brain was large enough, it began to formulate religious and philosophical ideas.

Belief in a superior power (God) is predictable in humans, as it is dependent on mental tools possessed by them. It is suggested that our minds are devised to believe in the existence of a supreme god who possesses the powers of knowledge, strength and immortality.

Even atheism is a belief that people are embracing. A disbelief of God is also a belief in something (science maybe). It is inevitable for humans to beliefs. We all have faith in something or the other. This is because our brain is fashioned to have faith and believe in something.

Proto-Religion

It has been hypothesized, by philosophers and researchers, that, at some unknown time, perhaps in the Paleolithic age, certain groups of hominids developed religious beliefs; rather “proto-religious” beliefs, as a form of adaptation.

“The Proto-Religion was the belief system of human beings at a time (100K BPE) before humanity dispersed from some central point over the earth (presumably Eastern Africa); and ethnic and cultural/linguistic diversification began.”

States the website,

http://www.mega.nu/protolanguage/proto-religion/indexR.html

Their beliefs included spiritualizing the nature and environment, thereby worshiping gifts of nature such as the sun, moon, earth, trees, etc. These beliefs caused groups of people to dance, sing, and worship together, making them more cooperative, unified, and pro-social. Consequently, these groups were more successful than groups, which were not proto-religious.

The only, and ambiguous evidence of religiosity in hominids, was seen in the case of “Homo neanderthalensis” - which are an extinct species in the genus Homo. They contradict to humans, in DNA only by 0.12%. They buried their dead. The use of burial rituals signals towards religious activity.

Except for this, there has been no other evidence of the existence of religion in human culture before humans reached behavioral modernity.

Introduction

The knowledge of the origin of religion is highly inaccurate and inadequate, as no form of information preservation – such as writing – existed at the time. Apparently, the evolution of religion was prior to that of language and writing.

It is assumed by theorists, that the first religions evolved as a response to human fear and mortality (rather, fear of mortality). These were created in order to provide humans and the society, with a sense of security and a command over this overwhelming (yet majestic) world.

As humans evolved, their brain size increased, causing them to wonder about their existence. After failing to reach a legit consensus, it was hypothesized that “SOMEBODY” created them, and for a certain oblivious purpose.

In addition to this, in order for a smooth running of the societies, stories were created, that would probably attempt to explain the occurrences in the their experience.

These theories, were perhaps brought in by the wise (sages or philosophers), who might in fact, be aware of the truth, but only make up stories, for the simple understanding of laypeople.