Religion
In reply to the discussion: Have We Evolved to Be Religious? [View all]E_Pluribus_Unitarian
(178 posts)I would say that we have evolved to strive for something better than basic social Darwinism. We're not there yet, by any means, but we do (in varying degrees) have this caring tendency toward the weak, the disadvantaged, the marginalized. Religion continues to be a part of that ongoing journey, although some faith-traditions have yet to break away from the authoritarian and patriarchal shackles that have encumbered the process for so long. On a positive note, that evolution continues, and we are beginning, I think, to break those chains and come to a more personal and less hierarchical, top-down understanding of what it means to be religious, or "ethically-disciplined free agents". Our relationships with ultimacy and ultimate connectedness need not have supernatural or authoritarian or patriarchal overtones to be useful and authentically religious, seems to me.