In a discussion I had with a theist, my opponent put forward that proponents of evolution who claim that religion is a byproduct of evolution and at the same time attack religion as a corrosive and destructive phenomenon, shoot themselves in the foot. For how can theism have any evolutionary advantages if it is destructive to society?
To answer this question first let’s have a look at some other human behaviour that we probably agree on to be very corrosive indeed: human warfare. This clearly is a form of behaviour most individuals would disprove of. Yet war is written all over human history. It can be traced back to early history and tribal societies and even further. How then is it possible to have warfare?
The answer is that from an evolutionary perspective warfare – although it certainly can have strong negative impact on individuals – in some very basic ways sustains the propagation of the human genome, for instance by giving acces, by brute force that is, to food sources in times of scarcity. An evolutionary – or in a broader sense any naturalistic explanation – in no way entails a moral condonement.
So there’s is a big difference between the evolutionary perspective and the perspective from the well being of individuals. In your question you seemingly unnoticebly (and not deliberately, i’m sure) change your perspective from the human genome to individual needs.
There is no contradiction in the fact that religion may have evolved as a human trait while at the same time being very destructive on the level of the individual. This very much is part of a broader reason versus nature argument often put forward. But not all that nature brings us is good for individuals. As organized individuals we should take a stand against any destructive behaviour that nature has bestowed upon us. Any religion that claims room for the free will of man contradicts itself when it states that an evolutionary origin of behaviour indicates advantages for individuals and extends that even to moral justification. In short, like some traits of human behaviour malaria has evolved, I suggest we act as responsible grown ups equipped with free will and reason and fight corrosive social elements where we encounter it.
