PodParley PodParley
PodParley
Why Are Most Humans Religious? Professor Robin Dunbar episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 17, 2023 · 1H 46M

Why Are Most Humans Religious? Professor Robin Dunbar

from ROCKING OUR PRIORS · host Dr Alice Evans

Why are most humans religious? How much can be explained by evolutionary psychology? Why do we cooperate? Is it religious injunctions or more emotional? Is religiosity really about cooperation? What about legitimising hierarchy, control, and female self-sacrifice. Muslim women are less likely to go to Friday prayers, but they are still devout. So perhaps group rituals are not so essential? Why did all doctrinal religions emerge within a narrow latitudinal band? Are groups necessarily small? Don’t films and social media scale-up solidarity? What about online mobs viciously attacking their favoured celebrity’s boyfriend’s new girlfriend? Interview with Professor Robin Dunbar, Professor of Evolutionary Psychology and Anthropology at the University of Oxford https://www.psy.ox.ac.uk/people/robin-dunbar Robin's latest book is on Religion. He has also published excellent books on the science of love and betrayal; the evolution of language; and friendships.

What this episode covers

Why are most humans religious? How much can be explained by evolutionary psychology? Why do we cooperate? Is it religious injunctions or more emotional? Is religiosity really about cooperation? What about legitimising hierarchy, control, and female self-sacrifice. Muslim women are less likely to go to Friday prayers, but they are still devout. So perhaps group rituals are not so essential? Why did all doctrinal religions emerge within a narrow latitudinal band? Are groups necessarily small? Don’t films and social media scale-up solidarity? What about online mobs viciously attacking their favoured celebrity’s boyfriend’s new girlfriend? Interview with Professor Robin Dunbar, Professor of Evolutionary Psychology and Anthropology at the University of Oxford https://www.psy.ox.ac.uk/people/robin-dunbar Robin's latest book is on Religion. He has also published excellent books on the science of love and betrayal; the evolution of language; and friendships.

NOW PLAYING

Why Are Most Humans Religious? Professor Robin Dunbar

0:00 1:46:21

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

Beating loneliness by bridging the generation gap

Apr 21, 2026 ·13m

Robotics and the Future of Aged Care

Apr 19, 2026 ·16m

The Purpose Paradox: Why Baby Boomers Delay Retirement

Apr 17, 2026 ·13m

A Growing Movement Aims to Prepare All Physicians to Care for Older Adults

Apr 15, 2026 ·12m

Defeating Recurring Charges on Cancelled Credit Cards

Apr 13, 2026 ·11m

If Your Dad Has These 11 Odd Habits, He's More Lonely Than He Admits

Apr 11, 2026 ·16m

Similar Podcasts

Eat to Live Jenna Fuhrman, Dr. Fuhrman Our health is our most precious gift and smart nutrition can change your life. Each month, join Dr. Fuhrman and his daughter, Jenna Fuhrman as they discuss important topics in the world of nutrition. Eat to Live will change the way you eat and think about food. HOMELAND HOMELAND The Church is a body not a building. It's the bride of Jesus Christ! Jesus is coming back for a mature bride. That means it's time for the church of Jesus Christ to move from milk to meat. This is the hour of maturity!HOMELAND is an announcement that the church is being set free. Only the church has the ability to transform the world. The kingdom's of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and Savior!All of creation has been waiting for this moment! Sons and daughters of God are rising up and taking their seat! PodQuesting Dwight J Randolph- WolfShield Media PodQuesting: -By WolfShield Media and Dwight J RandolphJoin us on an exciting journey to master the world of fiction podcasting! At PodQuesting, we document our quest to improve and innovate, sharing valuable insights, strategies, and behind-the-scenes tips along the way. Whether you're an experienced podcaster or just starting your first show, our podcast is your go-to resource for everything podcasting.Discover practical advice, creative techniques, and lessons from our own experiences as we explore the ever-evolving podcasting landscape. Ready to level up your skills and embark on this adventure with us? Tune in and join the quest!Have questions or feedback? Reach out to us at [email protected] and visit our website:WolfShield.Media Kaizen Blueprint Aldo Chandra "Kaizen" is a Japanese term for continuous improvement. This podcast provides a blueprint to learn about health, wealth, relationships and everything else in between. Through our podcast, we strive to inspire, educate, and motivate our audience to cultivate a mindset of lifelong learning, productivity, and personal development. By sharing insights, strategies, and practical tips, we aim to guide listeners on their journey towards realizing their fullest potential, fostering success, and creating lasting positive change.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of ROCKING OUR PRIORS?

This episode is 1 hour and 46 minutes long.

When was this ROCKING OUR PRIORS episode published?

This episode was published on January 17, 2023.

What is this episode about?

Why are most humans religious? How much can be explained by evolutionary psychology? Why do we cooperate? Is it religious injunctions or more emotional? Is religiosity really about cooperation? What about legitimising hierarchy, control, and female...

Can I download this ROCKING OUR PRIORS episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!