REL 2000 Chapter : Dawkins RQs
Document Summary
A1: dawkins, in this excerpt, does not give an outright definition of religion. Yet, when dawkins speaks of religion, he seems to mean when humans fast, kneel, genuflect, self-flagellate, nod maniacally towards a wall, crusade, or otherwise indulge in costly practices that can consume life and, in extreme cases, terminate it. (pg. 194) Although, the advantage may not necessarily be for us or our genes. (pg. 191,193) A3: dawkins seems much more interested in how tribal cultures may have benefited from religion, and how those benefits are found today. His perspective is functional, focusing more on the effects that religion has on us as a group.
