This is not a post on faith but an insight on some common human traits and how they have evolved facilitating formation of present day societies for the better or for worse.

Human psychology has an evolutionary history that predisposes us to behave in ways that are uniquely adaptive for survival and reproduction. Comparative psychologists study animal behavior and make comparisons among different species, including humans. Researchers in evolutionary psychology theorize about the origins of human aggression, altruism, mate selection and other behaviors only to find that many of them are inherited from our primate ancestors.

The psychology of ��aping��, closely associated with our ancestral cousins, is so deeply ingrained in us that fanaticism in beliefs or faiths, considering the history of mankind, is closely linked to the following basic traits human beings have inherited from primates.


1. People mostly rely on judgments of others when they find themselves in a state of uncertainty.

2. People mostly adjust their own behavior to conform to that of their group.

3. People will cause intense suffering to others rather than disobey authority.

4. People, who behave in ways that contradict their own attitudes, experience an unpleasant state of internal tension, so adjust their attitudes to be consistent with their behavior.

5. People change their attitudes to justify their own investment of effort, money, or time. Thus, they come to love what they strive for.

So, when people are confused, as to what is right and what is not, these inherited psychologies take over. No doubt there are so many ideologies and much sectarian violence going on in the world.

Thus, the question : Is Evolutionary Psychology Faith Friendly?

based on your premise...seems like the answer is no.

We unconsciously 'ape' people around us to feel safe. This is in our genetic make-up. When we come into a family and a society, we are predisposed to follow certain customs. Religion is not an exception.

Thus, I feel our evolutionary psychology is faith friendly. We believe in things we don't understand just because people around us do it. Gradually, to make ourselves comfortable and reduce our inner conflicts as what is the truth and what is a myth, we tend to bull-doze all our queries based on reasons.

That is not the essence of "faith"

Following someone else's acts of faith, doesn't give one faith.
Just as imitating acts of love, does not mean one has love.

Agreed !! But is it not happening always around the world? A child born in a Hindu society will eventually become a Hindu, same is the case in a Christian or Muslim society. It means 'faith' is a misnomer these days. What you mean as 'faith' is but a tradition of the family or society.

Not at all.

They are born into a religion, they can decide whether to follow or not. But faith is a personal matter. I know this to be true. The word in itself obviates logic dictated by society.

Your premise of evolutionary psychology may be "population" "religion" "institution" and "tradition" friendly, but not faith friendly...and certainly not love friendly.

By 'faith' I meant 'religion'!! I thought people out here would get the essence of my post. In general, we do use the word 'faith' for religion...don't we?

Love doesn't fit in the series but I feel evolutionary psychology is also love friendly. If we didn't love others or didn't have empathy for others, societies wouldn't form as we have now.

lol...if your definition of faith and religion are synonymous, then yes, they are compatible. we can remove love and sacrifice from the equation entirely.

that is why whenever someone develops a new concept of any of the existing world religion or philosophy, you can expect they will pander it using evolutionary psychology to gain followers. logical, convenient, scientific, manipulable. this is what faith-friendly is suppose to be...