Questions directed to atheists and agnostics only

[Woodrow]

Well you see, it wen't down like this. Ug the cave man was walking down he trail one day when a sabre toothed tiger jumped out of the bush and ate him up. Ug's last words were "Ug! WHY MEEE!?!". Thog and Unh were standing nearby and Thog turned to Unh and asked "Who he think he talkin to?"

Actually, I do think there is something to the theory you speak of. But belief in God is more of a side effect. We are evolved to be very keen at picking out patterns, even where none exist. We're apt at coming up with imaginative ideas too. False positives were less dangerous to our ancestors than false negatives, when considering something like if that thing in the stream ahead that you are about to step on is a rock or an alligator.

I see 2 distinct thoughts there:

We are evolved to be very keen at picking out patterns, even where none exist. We're apt at coming up with imaginative ideas too. False positives were less dangerous to our ancestors than false negatives, when considering something like if that thing in the stream ahead that you are about to step on is a rock or an alligator.

This one here could be explained in terms of behavior modification through posative reinforcement. That pattern would result in a high rate of survival and be repeated as long as the organisim exists.

The first idea is the one that intrigues me:

Actually, I do think there is something to the theory you speak of. But belief in God is more of a side effect.

I know that you would not accept this as evidence of God(swt), but to myself the concept of a God(swt) is of no evolutionary advantage unless there is a God(swt)

Things that are of no use for evolutionary advancement should become extinct. So apparently there is an advantage for humans to have a belief in God(swt)

 

[ranma1/2]

I see 2 distinct thoughts there:



This one here could be explained in terms of behavior modification through posative reinforcement. That pattern would result in a high rate of survival and be repeated as long as the organisim exists.

The first idea is the one that intrigues me:



I know that you would not accept this as evidence of God(swt), but to myself the concept of a God(swt) is of no evolutionary advantage unless there is a God(swt)

Things that are of no use for evolutionary advancement should become extinct. So apparently there is an advantage for humans to have a belief in God(swt)

I think Pygoscelis said it well, the concept of a god is a side effect.
And I think it would be better to describe it a being formed through social evolution.

 

[Gator]

Things that are of no use for evolutionary advancement should become extinct. So apparently there is an advantage for humans to have a belief in God(swt)

I believe its attributes that are effectively detrimental to survival is what would be removed rather than neutral or positive ones.

 

[Pygoscelis]

Things that are of no use for evolutionary advancement should become extinct. So apparently there is an advantage for humans to have a belief in God(swt)

This contradicts itself. If things that ere of no use for evolutionary advancement always became extinct, then apparently atheism isn't of no use for evolutionary adancement, since atheists exist.

I think your premise is wrong though. Things of no use for evolutionary advancement would become extinct only if there was an alternative with a very strong survival advantage. So apparently theism doesn't have one that is that strong. I repeat what I said above, its more of a side effect that sometimes takes place due to our evolved tendency to imagine false positives and patterns where none exist.

 

[Woodrow]

This contradicts itself. If things that ere of no use for evolutionary advancement always became extinct, then apparently atheism isn't of no use for evolutionary adancement, since atheists exist.

I think your premise is wrong though. Things of no use for evolutionary advancement would become extinct only if there was an alternative with a very strong survival advantage. So apparently theism doesn't have one that is that strong. I repeat what I said above, its more of a side effect that sometimes takes place due to our evolved tendency to imagine false positives and patterns where none exist.

Back to the drawing board. Like I said that was my idea with no proof.