The idea that God's plan for Kingdom expansion starts with understanding behavioral biology and the evolution of religion involves exploring how the biological and evolutionary aspects of human behavior may have played a role in the development and spread of religious beliefs and practices. Here are several key points to consider:

1. **Evolutionary Adaptations:**
Proponents of the evolutionary psychology of religion argue that certain cognitive and social traits in humans may have evolved as adaptive mechanisms. For example, the tendency to seek agency (attributing actions to intentional agents), to form social bonds, and to engage in cooperative behaviors could have provided evolutionary advantages to human ancestors. From a theological perspective, these adaptations might be viewed as part of God's design to facilitate the establishment and expansion of communities that adhere to a shared religious framework.

2. **Social Cohesion and Cooperation:**
Behavioral biology suggests that social cohesion and cooperation are critical for the survival of social species. In the context of religion, the formation of communities with shared beliefs and practices can enhance social cohesion. The evolution of religion may be seen as aligning with God's plan for creating societies that cooperate, support one another, and collectively contribute to the expansion of the Kingdom.

3. **Cultural Evolution:**
The evolution of religion can be understood not only in biological terms but also in the context of cultural evolution. Religious beliefs and practices often contribute to the transmission of cultural values across generations. From a theological perspective, this cultural aspect of religion may be considered part of God's plan to ensure the continuity and expansion of a particular religious worldview.

4. **Meaning-Making and Adaptation:**
Behavioral biology and evolutionary psychology highlight the human drive to make meaning and find purpose. In the context of religion, the search for meaning may be interpreted theologically as a fundamental aspect of individuals seeking a connection with the divine. This drive for meaning-making could be considered part of God's plan to guide individuals toward a deeper understanding of existence and purpose.

5. **Religious Institutions and Social Organization:**
The development of religious institutions and organized forms of worship has played a significant role in shaping human societies. From a theological standpoint, the establishment of religious institutions could be seen as part of God's plan to provide guidance, moral frameworks, and organizational structures that contribute to the expansion of the Kingdom.

It's important to note that these interpretations involve a synthesis of religious and scientific perspectives, and views on the relationship between evolution and theology can vary among individuals and religious traditions. Some may see compatibility between evolutionary explanations and divine purpose, while others may view these perspectives as distinct. The exploration of the evolution of religion and its connection to God's plan underscores the complex interplay between biological processes, cultural evolution, and spiritual beliefs.

The video has a good introduction on Daniel Dennett, so I wont hate.

He is trying to combine science and philosophy.

Religion arises through repeated transmission of basic ideas; a belief in belief. A meta-belief. Recall the first lecture, meta-magical thinking.

He looks at religion and you’ll hear him say he gives the same, “Probing objective analysis to religion as we do other [disciplines].”

What does he mean by breaking the spell against studying religion as a natural phenomenon?

What are the usual reasons people give explaining why religion exists:

Social Cohesion, Allays the fear of death, explains the unexplainable, secures domination of the powerful…

@10:02 – If you’re just listening, it’s a picture of something but you can’t quite make it out. The point he is illustrating is that if a Martian came to Earth and saw large gatherings of humans, millions of people, they’d start asking questions.

Takeaway Notes:

“If we don’t understand how people’s allegiance to their religion affects the way they think about the other problems, we’re going to make lots of mistakes.”

“There are lots of good people who thought that apartheid was a good idea.”

There have been hundreds of thousands of religions. Most are extinct.

The ones that have survived are extremely well-designed. They are not haphazard collections of junk.

@12:56 - Recall the first lecture, “Who designed these religions?” Daniel is asking the same question as Dr. Robert Sapolsky. 

@21:52 – Memes. This is before a meme was a funny picture on the internet.

Memetic natural selection – The strong words survive.

He makes a demonstration to show how the brain autocorrects to the norm.

What’s the purpose of the exercise with mumdefibuhepigastrium?

He is illustrating that you can’t correct to the norms if you don’t have an alphabet. You don’t have to know what it means, you simply have to have a deeply embedded habit that corrects to the norm. What is the implication of this?

What does he mean by cumulatively ramifying information that doesn’t get washed out? They don’t have the alphabet to understand the grunts so the grunts don’t translate into anything meaningful, i.e. words.

What do you think he means by differential persistence? What does he mean that sometimes conflict enhances robustness? How does conflict enhance robustness? What does he mean by kill with kindness?

This is super important: We want to think; when does it make sense to stop fighting against something and to allow it to persist to its own demise?

Some words have no good use at all, but they persist anyways.

Evolution is, in one sense, the amplification of what almost never happens. These ideas that are somewhat unforgettable go on to evolve into essentially, irrational ideas. They replicate and compete for rehearsal space in your brain.

Wild religions acquired stewards to devote their lives to the flourishing of these ideas.

Religions are designed to make reliable transmission possible, but nobody designed them and nobody had to.

Adaptations of Organized Religion:

Don’t Blame God.

Don’t argue with the devil. A wildcard for disarming any reasonable criticism.

Who believes that belief in God is a requirement for morality?

What does he mean by protective coloration?

What does he mean systematic hypocrisy?

What does he mean by encouraging irrationality?

What does he mean by religion doesn’t just disable, it honors the disability?