--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The predisposition to religious belief is…" description: "\"“The predisposition to religious belief is an ineradicable part of human behavior. Mankind has produced 100,000 religions. It is an illusion to think t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/edward-o-wilson-12084_belief_the-predisposition-to-religious-belief-i_2463851.jpg" --- # The predisposition to religious belief is an ineradicable… ![“The predisposition to religious belief is an ineradicable part of human behavior. Mankind has produced 100,000 religions. It is an illusion to think that scientific humanism and learning will dispel religious belief. Men would rather believe than know... A kind of Darwinistic survival of the…” quote by Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/edward-o-wilson-12084_belief_the-predisposition-to-religious-belief-i_2463851.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/edward-o-wilson-12084_belief_the-predisposition-to-religious-belief-i_2463851.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/edward-o-wilson-12084_belief_the-predisposition-to-religious-belief-i_2463851.jpg) > ““The predisposition to religious belief is an ineradicable part of human behavior. Mankind has produced 100,000 religions. It is an illusion to think that scientific humanism and learning will dispel religious belief. Men would rather believe than know... A kind of Darwinistic survival of the fittest has occurred with religions... The ecological principle called Gause's law holds that competition is maximal between species with identical needs... Even submission to secular religions such as Communism and guru cults involve willing subordination of the individual to the group. Religious practices confer biological advantage. The mechanisms of religion include (1) objectification (the reduction of reality to images and definitions that are easily understood and cannot be refuted), (2) commitment through faith (a kind of tribalism enacted through self-surrender), (3) and myth (the narratives that explain the tribe's favored position on the earth, often incorporating supernatural forces struggling for control, apocalypse, and millennium).”” [Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human beings have an innate tendency toward religion, which persists despite scientific progress and offers evolutionary benefits through social cohesion and shared narratives. **In simple terms:** Religion is a deep‑rooted human trait that aids group survival. Key Takeaway Recognize religion’s social role while fostering critical thinking. Themes religion human nature evolution social cohesion belief systems Mood reflective analytical thoughtful Type philosophical critical academic When to use this quote - education - public policy - interfaith dialogue - community building Key Concepts psychology anthropology memetics group dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How does religion shape group identity? - Can secular institutions provide similar cohesion? A Different Perspective Religious belief can conflict with scientific literacy and individual autonomy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Beliefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beliefs/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Human behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-behavior/) [Humanism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanism/) [Mechanisms Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mechanisms-religion-687429/) [Myth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myth/) [Myths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myths/) [Predisposition Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/predisposition-religious-687427/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religions Ecological](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religions-ecological-687428/) [Religions Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religions-illusion-687430/) [Religious belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-belief/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Survival of the fittest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survival-of-the-fittest/) ## Related quotes > [“The two basic human control mechanisms—religion and banking—were first formed in ancient Sumer, legacies of the Anunnaki gods, according to some. 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Many with apparent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/if-anyone-rises-to-power-it-s-not-only-because-he-could-but-also/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [“Boy, there are people who conquered half the world, slaughtered whole populations, wiped cultures off the face of the planet, and you know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-maberry/boy-there-are-people-who-conquered-half-the-world-slaughtered-whole/) [Jonathan Maberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-maberry/) > [That's what civilization sometimes did to threats, real or perceived. They walled them off. Us against them. Survival of the fittest. You die so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baldacci/that-s-what-civilization-sometimes-did-to-threats-real-or-perceived/) [David Baldacci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baldacci/) > [“Science lacks something very important that religion provides: a moral code. Survival of the fittest is a scientific fact, but it is a cruel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-g-riddle/science-lacks-something-very-important-that-religion-provides-a-moral/) [A.G. Riddle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-g-riddle/) > [It cannot but happen?that those will survive whose functions happen to be most nearly in equilibrium with the modified aggregate of external forces? This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/it-cannot-but-happen-that-those-will-survive-whose-functions-happen/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [“CRUNCH! 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But I don't think it's good to be too strong either. In our society,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natsuki-takaya/i-know-it-s-not-good-to-be-weak-and-helpless-but-i-don-t-think-it-s/) [Natsuki Takaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natsuki-takaya/) > [“There was no such thing as a fair fight. All vulnerabilities must be exploited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-caffrey/there-was-no-such-thing-as-a-fair-fight-all-vulnerabilities-must-be/) [Cary Caffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-caffrey/) ## More by Edward O. Wilson > [“Nature is the birthright of everyone on Earth. The millions of species we have allowed to survive are our phylogenetic kin. Their long-term history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/nature-is-the-birthright-of-everyone-on-earth-the-millions-of-species/) [Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/) > [“Traditional religious beliefs have been eroded, not so much by humiliating disproofs of their mythologies as by the growing awareness that beliefs are really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/traditional-religious-beliefs-have-been-eroded-not-so-much-by/) [Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/) > [ “\[E\]very major religion today is a winner in the Darwinian struggle waged among cultures, and none ever flourished by tolerating its rivals.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/e-very-major-religion-today-is-a-winner-in-the-darwinian-struggle/) [Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/) > [“Overall, it seems now possible to draw a reasonably good explanation of why the human condition is a singularity, why the likes of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/overall-it-seems-now-possible-to-draw-a-reasonably-good-explanation/) [Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/) > [“let’s also promote the humanities, that which makes us human, and not use science to mess around with the wellspring of this, the absolute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/let-s-also-promote-the-humanities-that-which-makes-us-human-and-not/) [Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/) > [“Moreover, we look in vain to philosophy for the answer to the great riddle. Despite its noble purpose and history, pure philosophy long ago…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/moreover-we-look-in-vain-to-philosophy-for-the-answer-to-the-great/) [Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/) > [“Annie Dillard was a pioneer in her Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, which won a Pulitzer Prize in 1974. Among other notable examples are David…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/annie-dillard-was-a-pioneer-in-her-pilgrim-at-tinker-creek-which-won/) [Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/) > [“The creation myth is a Darwinian device for survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/the-creation-myth-is-a-darwinian-device-for-survival/) [Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/) > [“Human beings and their social orders are intrinsically imperfectible and fortunately so. In a constantly changing world, we need the flexibility that only imperfection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/human-beings-and-their-social-orders-are-intrinsically-imperfectible/) [Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/) > [“Another principle that I believe can be justified by scientific evidence so far is that nobody is going to emigrate from this planet not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/another-principle-that-i-believe-can-be-justified-by-scientific/) [Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/) > [“To explore and affiliate with life is a deep and complicated process in mental development. To an extent still undervalued in philosophy and religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/to-explore-and-affiliate-with-life-is-a-deep-and-complicated-process/) [Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/) > [“Social intelligence was therefore always at a high premium. A sharp sense of empathy can make a huge difference, and with it in an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/social-intelligence-was-therefore-always-at-a-high-premium-a-sharp/) [Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/) > [“Somewhere close I knew spear-nosed bats flew through the tree crowns in search of fruit, palm vipers coiled in ambush in the roots of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/somewhere-close-i-knew-spear-nosed-bats-flew-through-the-tree-crowns/) [Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/) > [“Meat yields higher energy per gram eaten than does vegetation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/meat-yields-higher-energy-per-gram-eaten-than-does-vegetation/) [Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/) > [“Dawkins is an eloquent science journalist. What else is he? I mean journalism is a high and influential profession. But he’s not a scientist,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/dawkins-is-an-eloquent-science-journalist-what-else-is-he-i-mean/) [Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/) [Explore all 56 Edward O. Wilson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/) ## More Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. 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It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Browse all 10,268 Belief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The predisposition to religious belief is an ineradicable part of human behavior. Mankind has produced 100,000 religions. It is an illusion to think that scientific humanism and learning will dispel religious belief. Men would rather believe than know... A kind of Darwinistic survival of the fittest has occurred with religions... The ecological principle called Gause's law holds that competition is maximal between species with identical needs... Even submission to secular religions such as Communism and guru cults involve willing subordination of the individual to the group. Religious practices confer biological advantage. The mechanisms of religion include (1) objectification (the reduction of reality to images and definitions that are easily understood and cannot be refuted), (2) commitment through faith (a kind of tribalism enacted through self-surrender), (3) and myth (the narratives that explain the tribe's favored position on the earth, often incorporating supernatural forces struggling for control, apocalypse, and millennium).”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward O. 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