What Edward O. Wilson thinks about religion

@edward-o-wilson · 11 positions · On ppll ↗

Biologist (1929 to 2021), founder of sociobiology, whose On Human Nature (1978) argued that human behaviour, culture and religion are shaped by evolved genetic predispositions.

Edward O. Wilson did not write this page.

We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.

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Only Edward O. Wilson on religion. See everyone on religion

2 dated positions, c. 1978 to 2012, in their own words. Our reading of what Edward O. Wilson has said — not written or endorsed by them.

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1. 30 Apr 2012

   Our readingReligious strife comes from conflicting creation stories, not differences between people

   Their wordsWe ought to recognize that religious strife is not the consequence of differences among people. It’s about conflicts between creation stories.

   ↗E.O. Wilson on Altruism and the New Enlightenment (New Scientist interview, republished by Slate)slate.com 4th of 7 in this piece

3. c. 1978

   Our readingThe predisposition to religious belief is the most powerful force in the human mind and probably ineradicable

   Their wordsThe predisposition to religious belief is the most complex and powerful force in the human mind and in all probability an ineradicable part of human nature.

   ↗On Human Nature (Harvard University Press, 1978)archive.org All 4 from this book