Religious behavior may be the result of natural selection, in his view, shaped at a time when early human groups were competing with one another. "Those who found ways to bind themselves together were more successful," he said.
Dr. Haidt came to recognize the importance of religion by a roundabout route. "I first found divinity in disgust," he writes in his book "The Happiness Hypothesis."
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I find this extremely good journalism because it does, indeed, present several, but not all, viewpoints. In fact I only found competing viewpoints late in the article. Perhaps it is to give the views of Dr. Haidt a chance before introducing alternatives. There are two equally plausible theories about presenting one view first in front of another. Which compels the reader/listener to accept one over the other? Is the reader captivated by the view thats presented first; or is the last one the one that remains with him/her? I would say that print journalism is better suited for eliminating one or the other; only if the reader takes the time to carefully consider and ponder the validity of either the first or the last competing ... More »
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