The evolution of egalitarianism
Survival of the fittest. Extinction of the weak. And yet, egalitarianism. Evolution, which seems driven by forces that only make the strong stronger, has selected […]
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Religion boosts self-control
In the never-ending quest of figuring out why religion evolved, many have proposed that religion enhances group fitness. If correct, then researchers should be able […]
The rise of “new age” spirituality in secular society
Sweden is one of the most secular societies in the world (at least in terms of participation in church activities), yet, despite its strong secularism, […]
Challenging the idea of “spiritual but not religious”
Many people assume a sharp contrast between spirituality and religion. Spirituality involves strange experiences and feelings of ecstacy, whereas religion means boring sermons and social […]
A look at libertarian morality
You know your libertarian friend? The one who votes Republican but scoffs at “family values,” who posts Ron Paul quotes on Facebook and thinks taxes […]
Thinking about physics suppresses our social minds
Last year, a scientific study out of UBC-Vancouver made a splash by claiming that analytical thinking decreased people’s belief in God. Of course, this wasn’t […]
Five ways religion can influence political beliefs
Typically, when people think of “religion and politics,” they think of social issues such as abortion, contraceptives, and gay marriage. While that’s not a bad […]
Do you believe in magic? Seriously.
No self-respecting defender of science would admit to believing in magic. Science has surpassed magic by providing real explanations. Yet, when put in the right […]
Interview: Michael Ruse on evolution, creationism, and religion
Michael Ruse is a professor of philosophy at Florida State University and a worldwide expert on the relationship between religion and science. His work has […]
Review: Beyond the Brain
Complex and flexible behavior is a major mark of intelligence. But does complex behavior necessarily require a complex brain? The basic goal of the psychologist […]