Monday, October 6, 2008

which cosmology were you talking about?

My friend Malcolm writes:

It would, of course, be absurd to suggest that religion has done nothing for us. It has performed very well in its principal function: to define, bind, and regulate human social groups.

Are we talking about religion here on earth... or about the Force?

The Force is an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us; it penetrates us; it binds the galaxy together.
--Obi-wan Kenobi, "Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope"

Seriously, though, go read Malcolm's post. Excellent as always.


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1 comment:

Malcolm Pollack said...

Hi Kevin,

Thanks.

I'm quite serious, of course: I think the prevalence of religion in human culture is due to the adaptive benefits it confers on human groups.

David Sloan Wilson makes a strong case for this view in his book Darwin's Cathedral, which I think you'd find very interesting.