Nicholas Wade has a new article on the evolution of religion.
Evolution of the God Gene http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/weekinreview/12wade.html?hpw
He seems to be making the case for a conciliatory relationship between religion and science. Here is what he says:
Could the evolutionary perspective on religion become the basis for some kind of detente between religion and science? Biologists and many atheists have a lot of respect for evolution and its workings, and if they regarded religious behavior as an evolved instinct they might see religion more favorably, or at least recognize its constructive roles. Religion is often blamed for its spectacular excesses, whether in promoting persecution or warfare, but gets less credit for its staple function of patching up the moral fabric of society. But perhaps it doesn’t deserve either blame or credit. If religion is seen as a means of generating social cohesion, it is a society and its leaders that put that cohesion to good or bad ends.
What do you guys think? Does the argument work?
