Is religion part of human nature? Is it the result of evolution?
These questions will be discussed at a lecture Wednesday called “Mental instincts and their effects on religious thought and behavior.”
Pascal Boyer, professor of individual and collective memory at Washington University in St. Louis, will give the lecture. Boyer teaches in the psychology and anthropology departments.
“Many social debates these days are seen in terms of religious values. Can we have abortion? Is gay marriage a good idea?” Boyer said. “Many people think religions are important, and that religious doctrines are the source of their feelings about these. It seems important to understand what makes some of us believe, so we can understand people’s attachment to particular moral codes.”
Different aspects of research on religion and human nature will be discussed at the lecture, as will the historical context of religion in human history and the human psyche. Boyer will also address why religious thought and behavior are different from the widespread ideas associated to religion.
“I will try to show why it is that religion is so widespread in human societies,” he said. “We know of no human society where we cannot find something like religion. I will talk about research that’s been done for several years, by me but also by many others, to understand what makes religious ideas ‘stick,’ and why we find them interesting and compelling.”
Boyer’s lecture is co-sponsored by the Institute of Cognitive and Decision Sciences, the Center for Intercultural Dialogue, the anthropology and psychology departments, and the Oregon Humanities Center.
This event has been in the works for about a year. Professor of political science John Orbell, also a member of the Institute of Cognitive and Decision Sciences, said the event will help students understand the importance of evolution and behavior.
“Whether (students) are religious or not, it’s really important to understand Darwinian thinking,” Orbell said. “There’s a major scientific evolution going on, which is taking evolution beyond biology to understand all social behaviors.”
Steve Shankman, director of the Center for Intercultural Dialogue, believes Boyer’s lecture reflects the mission of the center and will provide insight surrounding important information on evolution.
“(The center) is interested in the study of the various religions of the world and in their place in contemporary culture,” Shankman said. “Professor Boyer opens up the possibility of seeing religion and religious experience as reflecting a more advanced, rich and complex stage of evolutionary development.”
Boyer says students can gain much from learning inside and outside of the classroom.
“Students should always go to public lectures. Classes are great for acquiring all sorts of intellectual tools,” he said. “In lectures like these, you see how the tools are actually used to say something about pressing issues.”
Religion, values lecture
When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17
Location: 282 Lillis
Cost: Free
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