"Peter F."
> > JE:-
> > Yes. Any "accuracy" a belief has, is just a bonus.
> > The main purpose a belief serves is to provide a
> > psychological form of identification and
> > predictability for trade within the tribe.
> > Belief provides generalised, predictable
> > behaviour. It now becomes possible to
> > approach and exchange goods or services with
> > a person of the same tribe, without the threat
> > expropriation.
> >
> You are confusing religious beliefs with traits such as our capacity for
> learned expectation or trust.
>
What John is pointing out is that evolution doesn't care whether our beliefs
are accurate or not, only whether having that belief promotes reproduction.
Thus a gene for believing that contraceptive pills cause cancer would be
successful, regardless of the medical facts.

John's theory is that religious beliefs enhance the ability to trade, so
would be selected for. He doesn't have to argue that religious belief is the
only thing that enhances trading ability - language, rudimentary maths,
deception and counter-deception would all be equally important.

We have the capacity for religious belief, just as we have the capacity to
do mathematics or to drive motorcars. What is different about religious
belief is that very ancient humans probably had some kind of religious
sensibility, so evolution has had time to work on religion directly.
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