Is Religion a natural necessity?

My response is below [otherwise known also as "calesuar" :-)]

October 19, 2010

Reply to http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/dtde3/ask_richard_dawkins_almost_anything_details_inside/

Hopeful_Optimism

To give some context, I am an atheist.

In an evolutionary sense, the reason why memes like the Bible or Koran have survived is because they are successful in propagating themselves. They've attached themselves onto us humans and into our society. You might almost say that it's a sort of symbiosis. If it were a detriment to our species and reduced our biological fitness, humans should have shed the notion of any religion a millenia ago. However, it keeps popping up in various forms throughout the times.

I understand that you, Dr. Dawkins, have a problem with religion as a whole. According to you, it affects society negatively. Can you elucidate your concerns about why? If religion (in one form or another) has occurred in many different populations independently of one another and does not reduce our biological fitness, might one say that it is a natural... almost necessary aspect of humanity?

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calesuar 1 point 178 milliseconds ago[-]

Trust on Divinity comes from collective fear and ignorance of external forces and also irresponsibility of one own's life, that is, you'd rather give the reins of your inexplicable out of your control life to someone else who seems more capable or at least gives you some soothing answers to that ignorance and fear: Religions. This behavior is Natural for human beings, and perhaps other animals (they seem to always be following a leader). But something being Natural does not mean it is also "Necessary", not at all. It is Natural to feel hunger, but not Necessary to eat McDonalds, those with bigger brains will eat a balanced meal with healthy wholesome foods instead. What is necessary for the survival of human beings is the formation of larger groups than just himself/herself for comfort, protection, and all those benefits that groups provide. However, group mentality has its negative effects. The degree to which a group has more benefits than detriments will determine its overall survival over the long term