The Challenge of Evolution to Religion

This Element focuses on three challenges of evolution to religion: teleology, human origins, and the evolution of religion itself.

Johan De Smedt (Author), Helen De Cruz (Author)

9781108716048, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 13 February 2020

75 pages
23 x 15.2 x 0.5 cm, 0.3 kg

'[The] book can serve as a helpful primer for the student hoping to discover the asymmetric dependence relationship of evolution to religion. The book equally serves as a deeper exploration of the finer details and questions that arise in the midst of these challenges for more seasoned scholars.' Jillian Langford, Reading Religion

This Element focuses on three challenges of evolution to religion: teleology, human origins, and the evolution of religion itself. First, religious worldviews tend to presuppose a teleological understanding of the origins of living things, but scientists mostly understand evolution as non-teleological. Second, religious and scientific accounts of human origins do not align in a straightforward sense. Third, evolutionary explanations of religion, including religious beliefs and practices, may cast doubt on their justification. We show how these tensions arise and offer potential responses for religion. Individual religions can meet these challenges, if some of their metaphysical assumptions are adapted or abandoned.

1. Science, religion, and evolution
2. Teleology, divine purpose, and divine design
3. Human origins: an evolutionary challenge to religion?
4. Evolutionary origins of religion.

Subject Areas: Philosophy of science [PDA], Philosophy [HP], Humanities [H]