Given the recent postings on religious and supernatural topics, I would like to take
the opportunity to suggest a new area of discussion. As intelligent and knowledgeable
people, I believe we can progress beyond quibbles over whether the world was *really*
created on the back of a turtle (etc.) and focus our efforts on something much more
productive. Even with our tremendous advances in understanding in the last few
centuries, religions and supernatural beliefs persist. Fields of social science such
as anthropology have well documented the functions religions and supernatural beliefs
play at both the individual and social levels. Given the recent findings that
religious beliefs/behaviors may contribute to our well being even after other likely
influences are controlled for (e.g.,
http://www.newswatch.org/mediacritic/july99/990701m1.htm), it is likely that the
capacity for religious/supernatural beliefs has been adaptive for our survival and
reproduction.
China and the former Soviet Union have demonstrated how difficult it is to
eradicate religions/supernatural beliefs. Instead of taking this questionable
approach, it may be more effective to evaluate components from different systems of
belief to determine which are beneficial to individuals and society as a whole, and
which should be cast aside to the dustbin of history. Some social scientists believe
that understanding our world is not enough, we are obligated to improve it as well.
Just about every other area of our lives has been or will be studied in this manner,
it is only logical to extend this analysis to one of our most cherished domains.
Perhaps the construction of a system of belief that maximizes benefits and minimizes
adverse effects would be beneficial to our continued survival and quality of life.
Daniel J. Kruger
Department of Psychology
Loyola University Chicago
