The Problem With Religions
Science, as we know, is answering many questions religion and philosophy used to answer. While scientists are typically honest and objectives, religious leaders often have some points to make that are subjective and arguably manipulative.
Scientific theories are designed to be tested with evidence. Theories that we have now are theories that, at least in the past, survive the scrutiny of scientific inquiry. Understanding scientific natures, for example, will help us understand theories that will correctly predict reality more.
For example, a religious sermons might advice, “Men should not aim for pretty women, and women shouldn’t look for wealth.” It’ll usually followed by messages that humans will achieve more happiness if they follow that advice.
While the world “should” is not disprovable, science can predict whether you will indeed be happier by following religious doctrines.
According to gene centered view of evolution, the sort of genes that survive in the gene pool nowadays are the sort of genes that are doing well in the gene pool. The sort of humans that survive in the gene pool, are the sort of humans with the winning genes.
Our genes affect our preference and behavior. Our genes decide the sort of conditions that’ll make us feel happy, sad, pain, or pleasure. The sort of genes that we have are the genes that correctly tunes our preferences toward gene pool survival.
Hence, we can rationally predict, that males, with their smaller gametes will prefer to mate with as many females as possible. Females, with larger gametes will prefer to pick the highest quality male.
Preferences that are common nowadays are preferences that are proven to work in the past. For males, being rich is obviously an advantage. Rich males can bribe more women for sex. Also women that pick richer males will inherit sons with money making talent and extra wealth. Hence, we will naturally predict that:
1. Males are greedy for wealth and women.
2. Females like rich males.
Fertile and fecund females and unfertile females consume the same food. Hence, we would predict that a male that aim for a fertile female will survive better in the gene pool for the same amount of money spent. We would expect males to prefer small waist, big hips, unblemished skin, straight teeth, tada tada tada… females. In other words:
1. Males look for pretty women.
2. Women want to be as pretty as possible to signal offspring making capability.
Because our preferences are essentially pursuing happiness, we would expect the genes we have are the genes that make us happier when we commit acts that lead to gene pool survival.
So yes, men will be happier to get pretty women. Women will be happier to get rich males.
Now, if women will be happier to get rich men, the other men will be out of the gene pool. So, we would predict that the less attractive competitors will entertain beliefs that the opposites are true. And that naturally explain the religious teaching that we see.
There’s much more like this.