http://www.scilogs.eu/en/summary.php SciLogs.eu - the daily storyline of science en-en A warm welcome from a scilogs-neighbor! The Blog captivates from the start & I am looking forward to many posts about (and for ;-) ) the Brain! http://www.scilogs.eu/en/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=478&blogId=24#comment-4638 http://www.scilogs.eu/en/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=478&blogId=24#comment-4638 Michael Blume 2012-02-04 08:42:17 NeuroCognition Yes, I think we agree about that Michael. Your own empirical work in this area enables us to state with some confidence the demographic/ religiosity effect that we have referred to. However,in my experience, good/interesting scientific results can sometimes be followed by less than scientific conclusions drawn from those results. In this particular case, it would be wrong to draw the conclusion that the fecundity of religious groups has a positive impact on social cohesion/ contentment or any other meaningful and desirable metaphysical characteristic of those societies. Although demographic/Darwinian success is usually a relevant measure of 'success' in nature, I suggest that it is not a measure of success for Homo sapiens at the present time. Currently we need to improve quality rather than increase quantity. http://www.scilogs.eu/en/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=477&blogId=3#comment-4637 http://www.scilogs.eu/en/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=477&blogId=3#comment-4637 John Jacob Lyons 2012-02-03 11:16:10 Biology of Religion I do agree that empirical observations and metaphysical interpretations are not to be confused. So I'd prefer empirical studies and debates over musings about humanistic or religious claims. Time will decide, as it did throughout thousands of generations. http://www.scilogs.eu/en/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=477&blogId=3#comment-4636 http://www.scilogs.eu/en/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=477&blogId=3#comment-4636 Michael Blume 2012-02-02 21:24:15 Biology of Religion You say " -- but if you proclaim humanism as the best model for our metaphysical future as human beings, you should just check the empirical facts." No need to check the facts Michael. As I have said, I accept the empirical facts relating to differential demography between relatively religious and relatively secular societies. What I don't accept is that these facts have any bearing at all on 'the best model for our metaphysical future as human beings'. They are simply irrelevant to social cohesion/ contentment; which is the subject in hand. Do you not agree? http://www.scilogs.eu/en/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=477&blogId=3#comment-4635 http://www.scilogs.eu/en/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=477&blogId=3#comment-4635 John Jacob Lyons 2012-02-02 19:56:52 Biology of Religion I am not applauding population growth (which is rapidly grinding to a halt within this century, after all) nor evolutionary fitness, I am simply stating an empirical observation: As to yet, we don't have any evidence about intergenerationally sustainable, non-religious human populations within all of known human history (featuring many non-religious groups as early as ancient Greece or India). Of course, they might evolve, but if you proclaim humanism as the best model for our metaphysical future as human beings, you should just check the empirical facts. http://www.scilogs.eu/en/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=477&blogId=3#comment-4634 http://www.scilogs.eu/en/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=477&blogId=3#comment-4634 Michael Blume 2012-02-02 18:52:05 Biology of Religion Take a bit of perspective on this situation. The communities in discussion are typically less than 30 adults (up to about 100 total individuals) and the period of stability for these is communities is months, then folks move to other bands – very fluid. Compare to our ‘nearest relatives’ the chimps: Stable troops of up to 200 or 250 individuals. Any individual will live their life in one or two troops. While these humans show notable levels of altruism and mutual support, chimps do a far better job of forming stable communities. These humans appear to really need to get away from one another after short periods of close contact. http://www.scilogs.eu/en/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=477&blogId=3#comment-4632 http://www.scilogs.eu/en/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=477&blogId=3#comment-4632 J. A. Le Fevre 2012-02-01 18:35:16 Biology of Religion The lack of a sustainable demography that you have found in relatively secular societies says nothing about their cohesion, their egalitarian nature or the level of contentment in such societies. As I have pointed out before, there is a need, in fact, to slow the exponential growth of the world population. I suggest that we need to focus on improving the general quality of life rather than applauding/ encouraging population growth for its own sake. http://www.scilogs.eu/en/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=477&blogId=3#comment-4631 http://www.scilogs.eu/en/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=477&blogId=3#comment-4631 John Jacob Lyons 2012-02-01 01:34:08 Biology of Religion Well, just do it. As to now, we found not a single population combining "the development/ general acceptance of a humanistic code of moral principles" with a sustainable demography (i.e. 2.1 children per women for at least a century). I'd be glad if we could name one. http://www.scilogs.eu/en/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=477&blogId=3#comment-4629 http://www.scilogs.eu/en/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=477&blogId=3#comment-4629 Michael Blume 2012-01-31 23:51:15 Biology of Religion This would make complete sense if the religious could agree on one particular religion Michael. Despite my own secular convictions, I would then have to agree that religion performs a very useful social function despite my own assessment of its delusional nature. But wishing will not make it so. The various religions produce some good, cohesive effects within-group. However, very strong between-religion schisms and hatreds create serious anti-cohesive effects; quite often including war. A much more enlightened approach to social cohesion would be the development/ general acceptance of a humanistic code of moral principles that all people of good intent could subscribe to. http://www.scilogs.eu/en/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=477&blogId=3#comment-4628 http://www.scilogs.eu/en/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=477&blogId=3#comment-4628 John Jacob Lyons 2012-01-31 19:23:25 Biology of Religion Yes, that's the point made by von Hayek and others: Small groups may function via face-to-face-contacts and reputation building, with religious practices offering some boons. But as soon as populations and hierarchies start to rise, religion(s) are needed to bridge social as well as cultural gaps for new modes of cooperation(s). For the same reason, periods of rapid changes and crises are regularly accompanied by religious dynamics, whereas times of comfort and stability tend to go with higher levels of secularization. http://www.scilogs.eu/en/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=477&blogId=3#comment-4627 http://www.scilogs.eu/en/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=477&blogId=3#comment-4627 Michael Blume 2012-01-31 18:03:34 Biology of Religion I am no expert in this field, but I understand that social cohesion among the Hadza is good, despite minimal religious practice. Perhaps their egalitarian way of life obviates the need for common religious beliefs/ practices in achieving cohesion? There have been several attempts to introduce Christianity to the Hadza over the years with no success. http://www.scilogs.eu/en/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=477&blogId=3#comment-4626 http://www.scilogs.eu/en/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=477&blogId=3#comment-4626 John Jacob Lyons 2012-01-31 16:36:32 Biology of Religion The evidence that the cultural behaviour that we call 'religiosity' has been adaptive over recent decades is very strong. I suggest that this has probably been the case over the whole evolutionary history of Homo sapiens. If this is correct, it would account for the precocious religiosity of the very young that has been reported by several researchers in this area. Foe example, Justin Barrett and Deborah Keleman. But if innate religiosity can indeed be detected, it must be genetically mediated; ie, it's coded into the genes in some way. How does behaviour, however adaptive, get into the genes? My answer, as some of you may know, is a process I call Genetic Priming. For a fuller explanation please select "The Genetic Priming ---" from the menu of "Top Read Posts" in the right-hand column. http://www.scilogs.eu/en/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=475&blogId=3#comment-4619 http://www.scilogs.eu/en/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=475&blogId=3#comment-4619 John Jacob Lyons 2012-01-20 13:20:21 Biology of Religion Your page is so wonderful! You certain do know how to retain your audience entertained. Im so glad that i took the time to appear at this weblog, due to the fact let me inform you. Not a good deal of individuals know how you can balance understanding of the subject and content. The videos are excellent! Fertility Clinic Success Rates http://www.scilogs.eu/en/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=360&blogId=3#comment-4616 http://www.scilogs.eu/en/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=360&blogId=3#comment-4616 Fertility Clinic Success Rates 2012-01-18 07:28:21 Biology of Religion ...has been successful so far. He sent me this link via Twitter: Google-Books UK - Political economy... Thanks a lot, William! http://www.scilogs.eu/en/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=473&blogId=3#comment-4611 http://www.scilogs.eu/en/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=473&blogId=3#comment-4611 Michael Blume 2012-01-12 20:08:39 Biology of Religion Just a bit off-topic (I can not help at this time with William Graham), but the musings of Alvin Platinga seem naught but (to borrow from Paul Simon), A Simple Desultory Philippic (a rambling condemnation) with no substance. His is a failure of imagination to grasp how civil man (with full aid from religion) was able to evolve without seeking answers from miracles. I, for one, do not believe religion needs philosophers to save it from evolution. http://www.scilogs.eu/en/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=473&blogId=3#comment-4610 http://www.scilogs.eu/en/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=473&blogId=3#comment-4610 J. A. Le Fevre 2012-01-12 19:24:23 Biology of Religion