Is Atheism Illogical When Religion Confers a Biological Advantage?

The idea that atheism is illogical because most atheists accept evolution but fail to recognize that religion was created through biological evolution, conferring a potential advantage, is a complex and multifaceted topic. Let's delve into this argument and explore the underlying logic.

Understanding Atheism

Atheism is a position that does not assert the existence of any gods. It doesn't claim that religion has a biological advantage; rather, it rests on a foundation of lack of belief in gods. The reasoning process in atheism is focused on evidence, logic, and rationality.

Evolution and Religion

Evolution, the process of biological change over generations, has indeed shaped human behaviors, beliefs, and institutions. Religion, in this context, is no exception. However, the creation and propagation of religion are not direct outcomes of biological evolution. Rather, religion is a cultural construct that has evolved through human social organization.

Does Religion Confer a Biological Advantage?

The argument that religion confers a biological advantage is challenging when scrutinized. While religion can influence social cohesion and cooperation, these benefits do not necessarily translate into a clear biological advantage. For instance, war, while it can offer some evolutionary benefits, is also detrimental from a biological standpoint.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Religion

When evaluating the impact of religion, it's essential to consider both advantages and disadvantages. Many religious actions and beliefs have led to atrocities and behaviors that can be seen as disadvantageous. For example:

The Crusades Jihads and other holy wars The Inquisition and European Witch Trials The "Troubles" in Northern Ireland Subjugation of women and LGBTQ communities

Moreover, these actions often cannot be justified by individuals who are not religious. This raises the question: can religion be seen as a biological or social advantage when it leads to such detrimental outcomes?

Crucial Questions to Consider

To further explore the nature of religion's impact, consider the following questions:

What disadvantageous actions could only a man of faith justify by pointing to a line of scripture that a faithless man would never justify? The Crusades Jihads and other holy wars The Inquisition and Witch Trials Homophobia and the subjugation of women What demonstrably advantageous actions could only a man of faith perform that a faithless man could not also perform? No clear example seems to exist (but we welcome readers to provide counterexamples)

Based on this analysis, it becomes evident that the disadvantages outweigh any potential advantages that religion might confer.

Conclusion

Atheism, as a philosophical stance, doesn't require believing that religion confers a biological advantage. Instead, it focuses on evidence and rationality. The evidence points to the idea that religion, in many cases, does more harm than good. Therefore, the claim that atheism is illogical due to its acceptance of evolution and failure to recognize the supposed biological advantages of religion is misguided.

Join the Discussion

Do you have any counterexamples or additional insights? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Can you provide an example of a demonstrably advantageous action that only a man of faith can perform?