J. Thomas is right. Religion can evolve in primitive man for purely selfish reasons.
Group selection may be relevant only for competition between religions. Hence, all
the prisoners’ dilemma arguments and tit for tat and all that is irrelevant. The
vocal heretic is the loner who loses group support and thus has a very difficult time
surviving.
So, back in the primitive tribe, surely there were plenty of people who had doubts about
their tribes Ugu Bugu god. But as long as one did not wish to get tossed out of the tribe
by the chieftain who at least appeared to worship and pray to Ugu Bugu, it paid the
individual to go along to get along. All hail Ugu Bugu!
J. Thomas is right. Religion can evolve in primitive man for purely selfish reasons. Group selection may be relevant only for competition between religions. Hence, all the prisoners’ dilemma arguments and tit for tat and all that is irrelevant. The vocal heretic is the loner who loses group support and thus has a very difficult time surviving.
So, back in the primitive tribe, surely there were plenty of people who had doubts about their tribes Ugu Bugu god. But as long as one did not wish to get tossed out of the tribe by the chieftain who at least appeared to worship and pray to Ugu Bugu, it paid the individual to go along to get along. All hail Ugu Bugu!