Science on Religion Research News
Conservative Protestants conflict with scientists over moral and social issues
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- Published on 21 July 2014
- Written by Nicholas C. DiDonato
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As seen from sociologist John Evans’s (University of California, San Diego) previous research, Christians, including conservative ones, have as much scientific literacy as the non-religious. The real religion-science conflict, he argued, occurs over moral and social issues. Now Evans continues his argument: not only do conservative Protestants disagree with scientists over moral and social issues, but this conflict has increased over time.
The evolution of cooperation
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- Published on 15 July 2014
- Written by Nicholas C. DiDonato
- Hits: 145
Cooperation provides many evolutionary advantages: groups working together can simply do more and, thus, defeat competitors who work as individuals. In fact, cooperation helps to explain how frail, tiny humans reached the top of the food chain. Cooperation is great. So great, that one wonders why more other animals do not have it. If it provides such a large advantage, it should be more common. Out to solve the mystery of cooperation’s rarity, J. B. André (Institut de Biologie de l’Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris) found that cooperation requires reciprocity, which in turn requires two abilities, neither of which can persist without the other.
The evolution of human interaction: selfish vs. selfless
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- Published on 08 July 2014
- Written by Nicholas C. DiDonato
- Hits: 249
Evolutionary theory suggests two major pathways through which human nature may have evolved. In the first and most commonly held view, humans selfishly follows “survival of the fittest” and “every man for himself.” Selfishness and the drive to survive anchors human nature. Alternatively, human nature may have evolved in a selfless direction fostering cooperation and community. To weigh these competing hypotheses, cognitive scientist Fabrice Clément (University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland) and colleagues tested young children to see whether they defaulted towards selfish or selfless interaction. As it turned out, selflessness prevailed.
The evolution of spite
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- Published on 29 June 2014
- Written by Nicholas C. DiDonato
- Hits: 256
Nobody likes to be on the receiving end of spite. Yet, there is something uniquely satisfying about being spiteful. Due to this “pleasure” the spite yields, something in our evolutionary history has trained our brains for spite. Why, exactly, remains puzzling, and philosophers Rory Smead (Northeastern University) and Patrick Forber (Tufts University) wanted to get to the bottom of it. Using statistical analysis and mathematical models, they showed how spite can evolve in a given population.
Secular and religious therapy
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- Published on 24 June 2014
- Written by Nicholas C. DiDonato
- Hits: 285
A “religion and science” conflict may exist on a much more subtle and practical level than “creationism vs. evolution” or “old earth vs. young earth.” A conflict may arise over mental health. Secular psychologists use particular methods and assumptions to help people improve their mental health, while priests use significantly different methods and assumptions. Wanting to know which type of therapy Romanian youth prefer, Vlaicu Claudia (Valahia University, Romania) compared secular and religious therapy.
American civil religion
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- Published on 18 June 2014
- Written by Nicholas C. DiDonato
- Hits: 437
When hearing the word “religion,” often one of the world religions comes to mind, such as Hinduism, Christianity, or Buddhism. Or perhaps one thinks of a more generic belief in something supernatural. Either way, one could easily miss what has become known as “civil religion.” Sociologist Rhys H. Willams (Loyola University Chicago) argues that while in word many Americans profess Christianity, in deed they at least also practice American civil religion.
Religious conservatives’ and liberals’ self-narratives
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- Published on 09 June 2014
- Written by Nicholas C. DiDonato
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In American politics, conservatives and liberals differ quite clearly over issues of economics, social programs, and social policies. Research concerning religious (as opposed to political) liberals and conservatives has only just begun, but Dan P. McAdams (Northwestern University) and colleagues suggest a deep connection between political and religious conservativism and liberalism: conservatives and liberals fundamentally interpret life differently. Conservatives see life as a struggle to maintain self-discipline and to overcome obstacles, whereas liberals understand life as a journey of self-exploration and fulfillment.
Why moral religion?
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- Published on 02 June 2014
- Written by Nicholas C. DiDonato
- Hits: 712
Although Westerners commonly believe that religion has an inherently moral component to it, a brief look at history reveals the opposite: far from being common, moral religions are the exception, not the rule. Most religions have or had spirituality without morality. This leads to an interesting question: Why moral religions? In other words, why did moral religions evolve? Anthropologists Nicolas Baumard (Oxford and University of Pennsylvania) and Pascal Boyer (Washington University, St. Louis) answer that moral religions appeal to a proportionality-based morality, a type of morality ingrained by evolution.
Out-group cooperation
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- Published on 19 May 2014
- Written by Nicholas C. DiDonato
- Hits: 1032
People evolved to be tribal. Insiders are given the benefit of the doubt and are trusted, while outsiders are shunned, discriminated against, and ideally avoided altogether. At least, this is the picture modern evolutionary theory paints of human evolution. However, economists Xiaofei Sophia Pan (Harvard University) and Daniel Houser (George Mason University) challenge this monolithic picture. They argue that in-group favoritism and out-group discrimination only occur when a group has independent sufficiency; if a group needs cooperation to survive, it will not discriminate against out-groups.
Pointless debates in the scientific study of religion
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- Published on 12 May 2014
- Written by Nicholas C. DiDonato
- Hits: 1161
The scientific study of religion aims to study religion by using scientific methods and the tools of specific scientific fields (such as evolution, psychology, neurology, or sociology). How exactly this should be done has been a matter of hot debate. Which theories of evolution should be used? Or which methods of psychology? While this may seem like a fundamental question, Joseph Kramp (Drew University) argues that it is a pointless one: arguments over methodology reduce to the personalities of researchers and indicate the stagnation of the field.
How religion promotes forgiveness
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- Published on 06 May 2014
- Written by Nicholas C. DiDonato
- Hits: 1117
Many will be encouraged to learn that religion correlates with forgiveness. After all, it’s always good when religious people practice what they preach. However, the question remains as to how exactly adhering to a religion makes one more likely to forgive. Answers range from simply reducing to social factors to blindly following a diety. Research by sociologist Daniel Escher (University of Notre Dame) sheds much light on this question: having a collaborative relationship with God, currently participating in a religion, and believing that God forgives all explain this correlation.
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- Group identity and ideological passion
- Science and religion conflict in the unconscious
- Fixing Western psychology of religion
- Religious songs help to ease stress
- Working towards a Chinese psychology of religion
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- Review: Atheist Delusions
- God, prayer, and self-control
- Religion and income inequality
- God and prejudice
- What (analytic) philosophers really believe about religion and science
- Religious premarital sexual attitudes in Kenya
- “Neurotheology” examined
