What is religion good for?

Jared Diamond in his book:Guns, germs, and steel : the fates of human societies
Author: Diamond, Jared M.
Publisher, Date: New York : W.W. Norton, c1997.Edition: 1st ed.suggests that the geography of Europe which fosteredmany small nations struggling for survival and supremacy resulted in competitive warfare which culminated in a technology race that greatly spurred on science.China was far more homogenous and less subject to competitive pressures and found equilibrium.The book is a good read at any rate.Morris Berman is his book:Wandering God : a study in nomadic spirituality / Morris Berman. Author: Berman, Morris, 1944-
Publisher, Date: Albany : State University of New York Press, c2000.explores the notion that religions were necessary to induce large numbers of people to live a cooperative agricultural life and cope with the stresses of living with "strangers" rather than return to natural sized bands.I found both authors persuasive but I'm not an expert in their fields and can't adequately critique their arguments. I recommend Berman's book as offering a way to look at the problem you've noted.I think religion served a function and that function remains necessary for the majority of people to this day. Will humanity outgrow it? Will it develop a more "rational" bonding mechanism? I've no idea but would like to think so.lfen

Phat,I really don't know that much about sociology. Diamond is a biologist with a strong interest in anthropology so perhaps his approach is accurately characterized as "Darwinist".I just know I really like his book. I thought Diamond explained a lot of things about human culture and history and did it very well.Have you read it? or any of his books?lfen