We interview Robert Wright, author of The Evolution of God and one of the founders of the pundit-driven website bloggingheads.tv.  In The Evolution of God, Wright lays out a convincing case that the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) are “illusions” shaped by completely natural forces like commerce, warfare and social instability.  At the same time, Wright controversially claims that Western religion’s progressive march (from shamanistic superstition to primitive polytheism to a monotheism which recognizes the value of individual human beings) reveals an inevitable, even divine “higher purpose.”  For more information visit evolutionofgod.net.

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 Podcast #58 - Robert Wright: Download (891)

Review by John C. Snider

Did God make man in His image, or was it the other way around?  Despite millennia of religious tradition, most scholars are convinced it was the latter–but exactly how and why man’s conception of God has developed is a matter of hot debate.

The most simplistic model for competition amongst the gods is that whichever god’s followers are the most numerous and/or the most violent wins.  In The Evolution of God, Robert Wright (The Moral Animal, Nonzero) argues for a subtler, more complex model–one that offers a much more hopeful outlook for humanity’s future than, say, the kind of “religion spoils everything” absolutism of Christopher Hitchens.

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Well, it’s July 1st, and that means that a whole passel of new laws go into effect here in Georgia, including one that will allow frozen embryos stored in fertility clinics to be adopted.  Since embryos are nothing less than children it makes sense they can be adopted, yes?  Except, of course, that current adoption law in Georgia only applies to actual children; so this new law, the “Option of Adoption Act” (HB388 if you’re interested) stops short of declaring embryos to be actual children, and instead of “adoption” per se we have “embryo transfer” and instead of “adoptive parent” we have “recipient intended parent.”

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Now, I’ll be the first to admit that there’s no well-drawn line to tell the government when it can interfere with parental discretion.  Cases like that of Daniel Hauser (the 13-year-old boy with a six-inch-diameter tumor whose parents wanted to treat with “natural” remedies instead of chemo) seem fairly clear-cut to me–the courts should interfere.   But are you a bad parent if you don’t give your child EVERY available vaccine?  What if you don’t take your kid to the dentist every six months?  When does the government step in?

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We interview Bruce M. Hood, author of SuperSense, which theorizes a genetic predisposition toward religious belief, superstition, and other irrational behaviors (and that includes you, too, atheists!).

Read John’s review of SuperSense, or buy your very own copy (highly recommended) at Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk.

Visit Bruce M. Hood’s Official Website.

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 Podcast #57 - Bruce M. Hood: Download (2234)

Charlotte Pop Fest is a multi-day music festival that will feature well-established internationally known artists in addition to local and regional indie artists in the “power pop” genre. The event will take place in the Fall of 2009 in Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina.

Proceeds from Charlotte Pop Fest will be used to support rational and scientific education at all ages, and to oppose the subversion of scientific education, for example by the well-financed efforts to teach pseudoscience in science classes. This includes advanced tickets sold through the Charlotte Pop Fest Web site; tickets sold at the door during the event; this year’s edition of the compilation CD; and any other event-specific merchandise like t-shirts, posters, etc.

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Another perfect example of religion as a cover for insanity and criminal behavior.  Read this article and tell me that, had the mother’s excuse been “I’m performing a ritual in the name of the High Folderol,” or “Instead of taking him to a doctor, I just thought this was the rational thing to do,” she wouldn’t be sitting in jail right now.

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Crank up the Hammond organ–here’s the second episode of the new season of Mr. Deity!

Check out this thoughtful debate between Sam Harris and science writer Philip Ball, which was sparked by Ball’s less-than-enthusiastic response to the launch of Harris’s Reason Project.  It didn’t help that Ball was somewhat complimentary of Francis Collins’s BioLogos Foundation.

…The Ascent of Man?  Jacob Bronowski died not long after he created this groundbreaking BBC documentary series about science and culture, and I remember watching it years ago (while I was in high school or college).  Anyway, I was very excited to learn that it’s now out on DVD (a little pricey at $149.99 for 13 one-hour episodes, but it’s also available much more reasonably through Netflix), and so Allison and I are enjoying watching it together.

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