Morality research sheds light on the origins of religion

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1. Evolutionary origins of religion: weak relation to morality
   It is a long-standing argument among religious believers that religiosity were necessary for morality. In a recent Trends in Cognitive Sciences article (requires subscription), Pyysiäinen and Hauser argue that morality can arise and indeed can be found without and before any religious education and thus religion is a by-product of pre-existing cognitive properties of the brain. Indeed, religion i
2. Study Sheds Light On Social Brain Development
   Children develop social skills by learning how to understand others' thoughts and feelings, or their theory of mind. A new study of EEGs of 4-year-olds shows that theory of mind changes are related to the functional development of two parts of the brain -- the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex and the temporal-parietal juncture. These findings are the first to show that these specialized neural cir
3. Is Teaching Your Kid to "Do the Right Thing" Child Abuse?
   Some people live by internal moral codes (even if these come from external religious beliefs) - they tell the truth, live within their means, pay their taxes, confess to misdeeds, succeed due to their own efforts, don't become substance abusers - and they teach their children to do the same. If so, they aren't preparing their offspring for the world we live in. Intentionally creating maladjusted
4. Does Reading About Serial Killers Make You Disturbed?
   In an earlier post, Asperger's Awareness for Assistance Professions, I touched on  the importance of professional awareness of certain behaviors in Asperger's, and how they can be misunderstood.  Such misinterpretations, handled improperly, can cause a great deal of havoc in the lives of people with Asperger's, and their families.  I recently saw yet another example of this depicted in the movie,
5. Protestants: Faith and Stocks
   Do religious people put their money where their morals are? Investors may seek both utilitarian and expressive benefits from their investments. The utilitarian benefits are investment risks and rewards. Expressive benefits vary depending on the individual, but investors may seek status, patriotism, consistency with social and religious beliefs, etc. For example, socially progressive investors may