In the Name of God: The Evolutionary Origins of Religious Ethics and Violence

Introduction: Evolution and Mind.

1. The Evolution of Morality.

Setting the Task.

The Moral Brain.

The First Layer: Kin Selection.

The Second Layer: Reciprocal Altruism.

A Third Layer: Indirect Reciprocity.

A Fourth Layer: Cultural Group Selection.

A Fifth Layer: The Moral Emotions.

Conclusion: From Moral Grammar to Moral Systems.

2. The Evolution of Moral Religions.

Setting the Task.

The Evolution of the Religious Mind.

Conceptualizing the Almighty.

The Moral Function of Gods.

3. Evolutionary Religious Ethics: Judaism.

Setting the Task.

Constructing Yahweh.

The Ten Commandments: An Evolutionary Interpretation.

Conclusion: The Evolved Law.

4. Evolutionary Religious Ethics: Christianity.

Setting the Task.

Constructing the Christ.

Setting the Boundaries: Christian and/or Jew?.

The Third Race: Christians as In-Group.

Putting on Christ: Christianity’s Signals of Commitment.

Loving Your Neighbor and Turning the Other Cheek.

5. Religion, Violence, and the Evolved Mind.

Setting the Task.

Devoted to Destruction: Sanctified Violence and Judaism.

The Blood of the Lamb.

A Case Study in the Evolved Psychology of Religious Violence: 9/11.

6. Religion Evolving.

Setting the Task.

Varieties of Religious Expressions.

If There Were No God ….

Religion, Ethics, and Violence: An Assessment.

Responding to Religion, Ethics, and Violence: Some Proposals.

Conclusions.

Notes.

Bibliography.

Index.