Religion may not necessarily be advantageous today, but when the first human began to band together, the codes of behaviour associated with the early religious beliefs were critical in defining individual behaviour in the group environment, ensuring order within the group and enhancing the groups survival. I view religion as an advantage to those early group.
There is a group of scientists that hold this view, and I agree it has merit. (I also think it may still apply today.)
But, one of the major questions this theory has yet to answer is why the belief in gods, that is, anthropomorphic intelligent agents that influence the world and may listen to human entreaties, is so widespread. One would expect to see more variety in the societal mechanisms use to form cohesive groups, but in fact religious belief in some sort of god or gods seems to be nearly universal.
As usual with these debates, I suggest both theories have valid points to offer. The byproduct theory may explain how such ideas first arose in individuals, and the group advantage theory may explain how these seeds of belief survived and grew into the complex religions we have today.
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But, one of the major questions this theory has yet to answer is why the belief in gods, that is, anthropomorphic intelligent agents that influence the world and may listen to human entreaties, is so widespread. One would expect to see more variety in the societal mechanisms use to form cohesive groups, but in fact religious belief in some sort of god or gods seems to be nearly universal.
As usual with these debates, I suggest both theories have valid points to offer. The byproduct theory may explain how such ideas first arose in individuals, and the group advantage theory may explain how these seeds of belief survived and grew into the complex religions we have today.
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