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Evolution, Sexuality, and Religion: Toward a Multi-level Model of the Emergence of Religion

Evolution, Sexuality, and Religion: Toward a Multi-level Model of the Emergence of Religion. Southern California Working Group on Culture, Cognition, and Religion February 19, 2011. James A. Van Slyke. Religion By-Product or Adaptation?. By-product theory

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Evolution, Sexuality, and Religion: Toward a Multi-level Model of the Emergence of Religion

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  1. Evolution, Sexuality, and Religion: Toward a Multi-level Model of the Emergence of Religion Southern California Working Group on Culture, Cognition, and Religion February 19, 2011 James A. Van Slyke

  2. ReligionBy-Product or Adaptation? • By-product theory • Religion is a secondary, unintentional by-product of cognitive adaptations designed for other functions • Adaptation theory • Religion serves some type of adaptive function in promoting reproductive success and survival in evolutionary history

  3. Religion:By-Product and Adaptation • Religion is a very diverse and complex phenomena • Different aspects of religion evolved as a consequence of both factors • Multi-level Approach • Cognitive factors • Individual level factors • Group level factors

  4. Cognitive Factors and the Evolution of Sexuality • Evolutionary Psychology • Cognitive adaptations for sexual preferences in mate selection • Adaptive to have preferences that increased reproductive success • WHR (Waist to Hip Ratio) • Facial Symmetry

  5. Religion & Sexuality • Sexuality is a common component in religious symbols • Many ancient cultures intertwined sexuality with religious rituals • Statues and other artifacts depict various forms of sexuality • Medieval Hindu and Jain Temples in India

  6. Evolution of Cooperation • Reciprocal Altruism (Trivers 1971) • Acts may be offered to another if there is reasonable expectation of reciprocation • Need to discriminate between cooperators and cheaters • Indirect Reciprocity (Alexander 1987) • Reputation as a reliable partner may also facilitate the development of alliances

  7. Costly Signaling Theory(Atran, Sosis, Bulbulia) • Religion serve as a proxy for detecting trustworthy partners • Higher individual costs in religious behavior signal higher potential for reciprocal exchange and cooperation • Higher religious commitment correlated with longevity in religious communities (Sosis & Bressler 2003) • Priming with God concepts increases monetary payments in economic game (Shariff & Norenzayan 2007)

  8. Religion as a Signal in Sexual Selection • Religion used to estimate mate faithfulness • Among the Utila, men prefer woman who demonstrate piety (Bulbulia 2008) • Men do not attend religious services • Religious commitment increases in the presence of competitors • Higher levels of religiosity reported after viewing attractive people of the same sex (Li et. al. 2010)

  9. Group-Level Adaptation • David Sloan Wilson (2002) • If there are several groups in a population, variation in regard to an adaptive trait may increase benefits for one group • Religion evolved as a an adaptive set of moral constraints on individual behavior • Monitors social life in reciprocity • Means of punishment for cheaters • Motivation for certain behaviors • Defines in-group vs. out-group

  10. Group-Level Adaptation • Religion evolved at the group level to regulate individual sexual selection • Religious mores and values often directed at sexual activity • Provides a means for regulating sexual activity among a group • Evolved as a way to balance individual interests with group interests

  11. Religion and Mating Strategy • Moral views about sexual behavior related to religious affiliation • Survey of 21,000 US residents, sexual behaviors were the best predictor of religious attendance (Weeden et. al. 2008) • Religion may promote a particular mating strategy • Low promiscuity (Paternity assurance) • Marriage centered • High Fertility (increased marital and social support)

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