Supernatural Selection

In 2006 scientist Richard Dawkins published a blockbuster bestseller The God Delusion. This atheist manifesto sparked a furious reaction from believers who have responded with numerous books of their own. By pitting science against religion however this debate overlooks what science can tell us about religion. According to evolutionary psychologist Matt J. Rossano what science reveals is that religion made us human Supernatural Selection Rossano presents an evolutionary history of religion. Neither an apologist for religion nor a religion-basher he draws together evidence from a wide range of disciplines to show the valuable--even essential--adaptive purpose served by systematic belief in the supernatural. The roots of religion stretch as far back as half a million years when our ancestors developed the motor control to engage in social rituals--that is to sing and dance together. Then about 70000 years ago a global ecological crisis drove humanity to the edge of extinction. It forced the survivors to create new strategies for survival and religious rituals were foremost among them. Fundamentally Rossano writes religion is a way for humans to relate to each other and the world around them--and in the grim struggles of prehistory it offered significant survival and reproductive advantages. It emerged as our ancestors'' first health care system and a critical part of that health care system was social support. Religious groups tended to be far more cohesive which gave them a competitive advantage over non-religious groups and enabled them to conquer the globe. Rather than focusing on one aspect of religion as many theorists do Rossano offers an all-encompassing approach that is rich with surprises insights and provocative conclusions.