Tim Tyler  wrote in
news:bqif1h$1ar6$1{at}darwin.ediacara.org: 

> Kevin Aylward  wrote or quoted:
>> John Edser wrote:

> Whather religion is a critical group binding mechanism for humans has
> little to do with whether the views it can sometimes lead to are
> accurate. 
 
>>> It is of immense importance to evolutionary theory.
 
>> Not really. The 10 commandants are derivable. There is no reason to
>> attribute "morals" to any religion.
>> http://www.anasoft.co.uk/replicators/religion.html
 
> Religion does seem to have a substantial impact on human behaviour -
> and thus seems likely to leave a mark on our evolution.
 
> When Mark Ridley sought a metaphor for our descendants - in
> "Mendel's Demons" - he called them "angels" -
humans with wings.
 
> It may seem like a strange image - but it is perhaps an appropriate
> one. 
 
> If mankind is dreaming of angels, then maybe those dreams will come
> true. 

Thank you. I am an agnostic who is often appalled at the bloodthirsty 
rantings of some supposed Christians (you can probably safely substitute 
Buddhists, etc. - I just don't typically run into them). But I am also 
familiar with history, and so am often heartened by the changes that have 
occurred in human society. Evolution is a powerful source of change, and 
the power of positive sum games should be evident to anyone who is a 
serious student of evolution, We may yet achieve angeldom :-)


Yours,

Bill Morse
---
þ RIMEGate(tm)/RGXPost V1.14 at BBSWORLD * Info{at}bbsworld.com

---
 * RIMEGate(tm)V10.2áÿ* RelayNet(tm) NNTP Gateway * MoonDog BBS
 * RgateImp.MoonDog.BBS at 12/17/03 3:09:46 PM