“It may seem seem cynical to see all religion as basically self-serving, and indeed the idea has been put pithily by a… — Robert Wright Copy Share Image
“The sages may have been self-serving, like the rest of us, but that doesn't mean they weren't sages.” — Robert Wright Copy Share Image
“William James wrote in The Varieties of Religious Experience that religion “consists of the belief that there is an unseen order, and… — Robert Wright Copy Share Image
Religion is a feature of cultural evolution that, among other things, addresses anxieties created by cultural evolution; it helps keep social change… — Robert Wright Copy Share Image
“[I]f it be any part of religion to believe that man was made by a good Being, it is more consistent with… — Robert Wright Copy Share Image
Jesus is not from Georgia. Jesus does not speak English. And Jesus is not a member of the NRA. — Robert Wright Copy Share Image
“[L]asting love is something a person has to decide to experience. Lifelong monogamous devotion is just not natural—not for women even, and… — Robert Wright Copy Share Image
“The idea is that human culture as broadly defined--art, politics, technology, religion, and so on--evolves in much the way biological species evolve:… — Robert Wright Copy Share Image
“Edward Tylor noted in 1874 that the religions of “savage” societies were “almost devoid of that ethical element which to the educated… — Robert Wright Copy Share Image
“No doubt the world's shamans have run the gamut from true believer to calculating fraud, and no doubt many true beliefs have… — Robert Wright Copy Share Image
Your brain may give birth to any technology, but other brains will decide whether the technology thrives. The number of possible technologies is infinite,… — Robert Wright Copy Share Image
“What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?" asked the Christian theologian Tertullian... Having received the revealed thruth via Christ, "we want no curious disputation."… — Robert Wright Copy Share Image
“A female in a high-MPI species may seek signs of generosity, trustworthiness, and, especially, an enduring commitment to her in particular.” — Robert Wright Copy Share Image
“And don’t feel like you’re committing a felony-level violation of Buddhist dogma just because you think of yourself as being a self.” — Robert Wright Copy Share Image
“The keen sensitivity with which people detect the flaws of their rivals is one of nature's wonders. It takes a Herculean effort to control… — Robert Wright Copy Share Image
“realizing you’re not king can be the first step toward getting some real power.” — Robert Wright Copy Share Image
“happiness comes down to choosing between the discomfort of becoming aware of your mental afflictions and the discomfort of being ruled by them.” — Robert Wright Copy Share Image
“They will, on the one hand, have sex with just about anything that moves, given an easy chance, like males in a low-MPI species.… — Robert Wright Copy Share Image
Like a lawyer, the human brain wants victory, not truth; and, like a lawyer, it is sometimes more admirable for skill than virtue. — Robert Wright Copy Share Image
“It may seem seem cynical to see all religion as basically self-serving, and indeed the idea has been put pithily by a famous cynic.… — Robert Wright Copy Share Image
“Brewer said the basic idea is to not fight the urge to, say, smoke a cigarette. That doesn’t mean you succumb to the urge… — Robert Wright Copy Share Image
