Evolution's reason for God

[DD_8630]

So we here believe in evolution. However, what evolution advantage gave rise to God in the first place, and why did evolution select it to pulmugate(sp) until the far great majority of humans in the world believe in at least 1 religion(>80%).

It's quite simple, really: religion is a by-product of the human mind's ability to see patterns in nature (even when none exist), and its tendency to put unequivocal trust in its ancestors.

Consider: over the aeons, people have tried to explain this, that, and the other. Before scientific methodology and systematic experimentation proved their worth, and old guess was enough to convince people.

Now, over time, a great many ideas were proposed. Of those, people were more receptive to some than others. Specifically, people flocked to those ideas which seemingly explained everything: baffling phenomena (thunder, rain, crop growth, etc) were the work of gods and spirits, evil is the work of evil gods and evil spirits, etc. These appealed to people because they seemed airtight. Our pattern-recognising brains saw analogies between the malicious works of humans and the cruel acts of nature, and put two and two together.

And because we intuitively trust our elders (parents, etc), their beliefs become our beliefs. Thus, those ideas which appeal to us and make intuitive sense to us are spread throughout the population.

Much like the evolution of beneficial traits.

We all know too that religion is not merely a theory: People are willing and have died for it, others have devoted their entire existence to it.

Scientifict tests have also shown that when buddhist monks or christians go deep into prayer, their brains show an altered state.

Many Christians feel they talk to God too, via prayer.

It is not merely a theory, but something in their brain and hence, genes.

Not everything that goes on in our brains is due to our genes. Our genes determine how the brain processes incoming information, but it doesn't determine the information itself.

I know also of people,who, despite having no idea what Evolution is, and despite having no explanation of how the universe popped into being, refused to believe in any religion.

I have thought over a long time but cannot really think of much or perhaps any reason why evolution choose god. If there is any factors, a believe in god is an Evolution DISadvantage.

Typically, God believing cultures devote much time and significant resources to things which does not contribute to passing of the gene. Eg. the time spent praying and worshipping can be used for getting more food or mating.

Notice, however, that those cultures with a consistent deficiency of crops, water, fertility, etc, have gods and rituals who promote crop growth, rainfall, and human reproduction. It is only in societies where these fundamental needs are met that more sophisticated theology can develop.

In ancient cultures..Look at the resources spent getting the pyramids up. I have no idea how this contributes to spreading their genes.

I do not even need to mention that somehow, many forms of religion have rules AGAINST rampant proceating.

Hence why does 'God'flourish so much? Why Evolution pick God to flourish? Why hasn't evolution wiped out God, by wiping out cultures which wasted precious resources as compared to other cultures which did not waste them on God? I have not much idea.

Evolution doesn't 'wipe out God' because, to some degree, religion is beneficial: it is very very good at providing societal cohesion. This is important because, when competing against other societies, it is the more stable one which survives.