there are many many intelligent responses to the Andrew West article...this is one which maybe digs a little deeper.
The problem is not religion, as you point out, it is some forms of religion. The problem is not Islam, as you point out, it is some forms of Islam. The problem, however is not culture either, it is some forms of culture. But this raises the question, what forms of religion/culture/Islam are the problem, and what gives rise to their expression? Ultimately, (and it should be obvious) the problem is universal to human nature, the problem lies in the mind/brain itself, and it transcends cultural or religious boundaries. In any culture, religion, or social-political context, the teaching of mindless assumptions (cultural, political, or otherwise), which give rise to racial violence, or other unlawful expression, is to be condemned. Ultimately an understanding of the mind, including its evolved context, may be a key method in understanding and dealing with some of the social problems with which it too easily finds expression.
The mind (i.e. the brain) unfortunately, carries predispositions towards ideological fanaticism. This is not a value judgment, it is simply a genetic and evolutionary reality. Every culture, religion, or social institution contains within itself, either the problem of fanaticism/ideological extremism (often managed to a reduced level), or the smoldering possibility of it developing, because that is how the mind, which is the basis of all social expression, has evolved.
Cultures which have developed in unfavourable geographical contexts (e.g. the Middle east, where three continents come together, or Europe, where multiple geographical ethnicities have developed), do tend to have a predisposition towards fanatical ideologies, which most often manifest themselves in religion, but can also manifest itself in political, or other contexts. Jared Diamond in the book Guns Germs and Steel, blamed Europe?s long history of warfare and ideological bickering largely on, of all things, its? geography-the contusions, peninsulas, and various mountain ranges ensured that societies would first of all develop and evolve separately, which would then allow ideological inferiority complexes to develop, and political expansionists to constantly want to start new wars, whilst in general, ensuring a lack of unity. The same sort of problem is plaguing political unity in Indonesia today.
Our evolutionary history did not necessarily select against fanatical predispositions, as these were, at times, useful in warfare, political causes, or other general political or survival purposes. This, again, is not a value judgment, it is simply a genetic and evolutionary reality. Natural selection, did not, and probably could not, select against fanatical predispositions, if those same predispositions gave survival value in other contexts. But these predispositions and mindsets can cause terrible damage in certain social contexts. One of the problems with being a species evolved through natural selection, is that natural selection does not ensure that the baggage that you carry will be used, or useful, in every social context (which makes a mockery of the intelligent design contention). If you want to blame someone, or something, blame our evolutionary heritage. Charles Darwin wrote "What a book a devil's chaplain might write on the clumsy, wasteful, blundering low and horridly cruel works of nature".
This is not to say we cannot overcome our evolutionary predispositions. The genes themselves have evolved capacities to regulate themselves, including their ultimate expression-culture. Richard Dawkins, in the famous book, The Selfish Gene, whilst attributing virtually everything to the mindless chemical processes of so-called ?selfish (i.e. self-replicating) genes?, nevertheless stated that we have to constantly endeavor to overcome our negative genetic predispositions. Recognising the reality of our evolutionary heritage and predispositions does not 'condemn' us to those same predispositions, rather it helps us alleviate and reduce the suffering caused by those with which we, as a society, do not accept. Ultimately, we need to work hard to ensure that what we have inherited within ourselves, but which we do not agree with, including racial violence, does not find expression.
Posted by: Roger McEvilly at December 13, 2005 12:04 PM
