Evolutionary Perspectives on Religion – What They Can and What They Cannot Explain (Yet)

Abstract

In the present chapter it is argued that evolutionary theories of religion contain many brilliant and fascinating ideas, but that there is currently no overarching theory, which is able to explain all or at least the most important aspects of religion. It is described, which different lines of research such a theory would have to combine with. Furthermore, a number of hypotheses are critically discussed, namely (a) that religion can be explained by group selectiongroup selection, (b) that religiousnessreligiousness is adaptive because it is related to fertilityfertility, and (c) that religiosityreligiosity is costly. Additionally, based on the fact that religious ideas spread by humans convincing other humans of their religious illusions, the question is raised how to explain, why humans can be manipulated by other humans to believe in entities that do not exist.