Religion is a feature of cultural evolution that, among other things, addresses anxieties created by cultural evolution; it helps keep social change safe from itself.
Interpretation
Religion serves to manage the anxieties that arise from changes in culture and society.
In this quote, Robert Wright explains that religion is a product of cultural evolution, designed to address the uncertainties and anxieties that social changes can bring. By providing a framework for understanding and coping with these changes, religion plays a critical role in ensuring that the transitions in society remain stable and constructive rather than chaotic and destructive.
In practice
In a discussion about the role of religion in society, one might quote this to illustrate its function in managing social change.
Think of it : zillions and zillions of organisms running around, each under the hypnotic spell of a single truth, all these truths identical, and all logically incompatible with one another : 'My hereditary material is the most important material on earth; its survival justifies your frustration, pain, even death'. And you are one of those organisms, living your life in the thrall of a logical absurdity.
Understanding the often unconscious nature of genetic control is the first step toward understanding that—in many realms, not just sex—we’re all puppets, and our best hope for even partial liberation is to try to decipher the logic of the puppeteer.
...human beings are a species splendid in their array of moral equipment, tragic in their propensity to misuse it, and pathetic in their ignorance of the misuse.
God is the Great Engineer, creating circumstances to bring about moments in our lives of divine importance, leading us to divine appointments
I don't care about age very much.
If the religious experience were simply some naive impression of the uninformed it would not have resulted in such intellectual insight, such spiritual exaltation, such spectacular religious ritual, or in the immense volume of song and poetry and literature and dance that humans have produced.
I don't think we should stop emphasizing race because I think, you know, race is still very, very important, and we have to recognize that and continue to introduce programs to address racial inequities. But we have to widen our vision and also address the growing problems of economic class.
Doesn't expecting the unexpected make the unexpected expected?
Being solo really lends itself to different interpretations - and everything is in the moment and on a whim. I never realised how far out you can go when you are by yourself.
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