Science and religion have existed as opposing perspectives from the origins of humanity to the present day, each establishing its role through its understanding of nature and transcendent beings. While advances in science have improved our lives and uncovered many mysteries, religion still addresses humanity’s inner anxieties and questions of ultimate meaning. Even in modern times, the relationship between science and religion continues to interact and conflict, deeply affecting human life.
From the origins of mankind to the present day, scientific theories have made remarkable advances. Science has sought to unravel countless mysteries, including the origin of the universe, the birth of life, and the process of human evolution. The development of science, especially since the mid-20th century, has brought about profound changes in all aspects of human life, and the scientific mindset has had a profound impact on human thought and culture. However, there is one area that even modern scientific theories have not been able to clearly explain: the question of transcendent beings such as God or the Absolute, which is the realm of religion and spirituality.
Religion is as old as humanity itself, and has evolved into a system of beliefs that initially began as awe and fear of natural phenomena. As societies became more complex and cultures more diverse, religion became an important cultural element that provided comfort and moral guidance for human life. Different countries and cultures developed different religious beliefs and practices, and there are still many religions around the world today. Religion is more than just a belief, and has been deeply entrenched in people’s lives, providing them with psychological security and a sense of community. However, in the modern world, scientific mindsets and religious beliefs often clash, and over the years, numerous conflicts have arisen between those who believe in science and those who believe in religion.
One of the most important debates that explores the relationship between science and religion is the question “Is religion a biological adaptation of humans?” This question leads to a discussion of whether the existence and role of religion can be viewed as a biological phenomenon beyond mere beliefs, and examines whether religion contributes to human survival and social adaptation. If religion is an inevitable consequence of human adaptation, then it can be understood from the perspective of human evolution. In other words, if the act of believing in a religion has become an advantageous survival strategy for humans, then it can be understood as a scientific inquiry.
Religion is a form of human psycho-culture that involves connecting with beings or principles beyond our experience to give meaning and borrow their power in order to resolve some of the most intrinsic of human problems, such as anxiety, mortality, and serious concerns. Since the dawn of mankind, religion has undergone many qualitative and quantitative transformations and continues to have a profound impact on our inner lives and social relationships today.
The concept of adaptation refers to the phenomenon in which an organism changes its appearance, lifestyle, etc. to fit into its surroundings or living environment. According to Darwin’s theory of evolution, the shape and behavior of each species of animal is the result of adaptations that have changed in response to its environment. This applies to all living things, including humans. For example, walking upright and speaking a language can be seen as adaptations to the environment. But is the act of human religion an adaptation?
The reason religion has continued to thrive in human societies is because it provides psychological stability and social bonding. Religion not only satisfies an individual’s emotional thirst, but it also provides moral standards and strengthens social cohesion by emphasizing the common good over self-interest. For these reasons, religious groups may have had a higher survival rate than non-religious groups. From a natural selection perspective, it is likely that the percentage of religious groups has gradually increased, leading some to argue that religion may be the result of adaptation as part of human survival strategies.
Just as natural selection is a compromise between an organism’s structure and its environment, humans have faced numerous physical and mental crises throughout their lives, and it is plausible to argue that they have adapted in a way that favors survival by turning to religious beliefs to overcome anxiety and fear. In particular, religious beliefs have had a positive impact on human mental health and will to live by providing comfort and answers to the ultimate anxiety of death.
However, there is a counter argument to the “religion is adaptation” thesis. They argue that just as an organism’s adaptation may result in the retention of unfavorable mutations or certain anatomy, religion hasn’t necessarily evolved in a way that’s appropriate for its environment. For example, the mouth and tracheal structures of terrestrial vertebrates have remained in an inconvenient shape during evolution, which can pose a risk of airway obstruction when swallowing food. This shows that evolution does not always proceed in a beneficial direction. Similarly, just because religion has had a positive impact on humans doesn’t necessarily mean it can be considered an adaptation.
Furthermore, for science, the concept of adaptation gains validity through predictability and verifiability. Religious beliefs, on the other hand, do not rely on empirical proof or prediction, but are based on a belief in a transcendent truth. Advocates of intelligent design argue that religious beliefs are not simply a byproduct of evolution, but are the result of the intervention of a divine creator. They believe that spiritual forces beyond the material world influence the existence and evolution of organisms, but this view is difficult to prove using a scientific approach, as religion is never something that can be scientifically proven, and attempting to prove the existence of a divine being is beyond the scope of science.
Cognitive science, the study of how religious beliefs are formed in the human mind, also offers an interesting perspective. The latest research in cognitive science, grounded in evolutionary biology, suggests that religion and belief in the supernatural are natural byproducts of the interaction of human cognitive and emotional mechanisms. This suggests that religion is not something that is simply imposed from the outside, but rather the result of the interaction of various cognitive and psychological mechanisms in humans.
Finally, there is a certain percentage of people in human society who are not religious. This suggests that religion is not necessarily the result of human adaptation, or that non-religious people are maladapted. We are discussing whether religion itself is a product of adaptation, not whether individuals believe in it or not, and since religious beliefs change through social transmission and cultural diversity, we cannot conclude that religion is not an adaptive phenomenon just because there are now more people without religious beliefs.
Religion is an important factor for humans to find solace in life’s crises, and it has been shown to provide benefits to both individuals and groups in terms of psychological stability as well as health. Taken together, these factors suggest that religion arose as an adaptive phenomenon during human evolution.
