Religion as Adaptive 2: Adaptationist Approaches

Abstract

This chapter discusses adaptationist theories of religion which consider religious components such as beliefs and/or behaviors as adaptations. Such adaptationist theories of religion include Broad Supernatural Punishment Theory, Big God Theory, costly signaling theories of religion, the concept of religious coping and its positive impact on human health, and the idea that religious rituals foster cohesion. Such theories draw on two important distinctions: group versus individual selection of religion, and the concept of religion as old versus new adaptation.