Opinion
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Morality can thrive apart from religion
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Published: August 9, 2008
Most Americans appear to be confident that religious faith is the primary source of virtuous behavior. A majority of Christians seem to assume that, at some time in the distant past, the biblical god revealed to our ancestors just what we needed to understand to be good moral citizens. The story about the Ten Commandments and other myths in the Bible illustrate how this may have happened.
Recent research suggests that we have been wrong, that morality can emerge and persist without religion. Evidence now points to the conclusion that early humans and prehumans were, long before religion started, predisposed to practice empathy, fairness and loyalty. In fact, these qualities are commonly found in bands of chimpanzees, and the normal behavior of very young children also reflects these attributes.
Evolutionary psychologists propose that natural selection resulted in brains that instinctually encouraged Australopithecines and other early hominids to be concerned about the welfare of others in their group, to share resources and information with them and to be loyal members of that band.
Such behavior would have been highly valuable. The cooperation facilitated by generalized empathy, fairness and solidarity would have greatly enhanced group survivability. Hominid bands that did not have these qualities would be less likely to survive, and so not pass on their genetic tendency to be amoral.
The fact that empathy, fairness and loyalty are the norm in all human societies, in spite of a great deal of cultural differences, is consistent with this theory that, as a result of our evolution, human brains are hardwired to encourage moral behavior.
Granted, not all individuals are moral, and most do not necessarily feel empathy for foreigners, treat strangers fairly or align themselves with outsiders. But they do empathize, share and identify with at least some others. A few may do this only with close relatives and friends, but most extend these moral principles to include additional members of their society, thus enhancing the ability of that population to survive hard times.
As a child I accepted the popular assumption that being religious is what made people behave themselves. It seemed logical enough that if moral people pleased God and went to heaven and immoral people went to hell, then most of us would try to be good. But as a budding anthropologist I discovered that tribal belief in witchcraft can have a similar consequence, encouraging believers to behave themselves to avoid offending a witch who might, consequently, attack them.
Additionally, since moral deviants are the most likely to be suspected of being witches, those who behave properly avoid suspicion and whatever punishment is deemed suitable for witches. And yet, I have never heard from any missionary that morality can come from faith in witchcraft, a far older belief than Christianity or an omnipotent god.
The emergence of beliefs in evil spirits, witches, deified ancestors and punitive gods is not the source of morality but, likely, an outgrowth of morality. Had our early ancestors not had the benefits of innate morality, they probably would have been less likely to imagine supernatural agents who were somehow interested in human behavior.
As an adult I have known numerous individuals who did not believe in supernatural power such as witchcraft or supernatural beings such as God, and yet they were no less inclined to be moral than are my religious friends.
If morality comes from religion, why is it normal for chimpanzees, all tribal peoples and nonbelievers to feel empathy for others, to practice fairness, and to remain loyal to relatives and friends?
Those who worry about the removal of public school-sponsored religious practices and doing away with sectarian prayers at meetings of county commissioners might take solace in knowing that although religion can encourage moral behavior, most of us will continue to be good citizens whether or not religion influences us.
And looking around the world where so much cruelty is practiced in the name of religion, perhaps we will discover someday that, without religion, we can be more inclined to be empathetic with strangers and generous with foreigners and feel loyal to our fellow human beings in spite of racial and cultural differences.
■ Anthony Layng is a cultural anthropologist who taught as an adjunct professor at Wake Forest University.
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