Can Religious Faith Minimize Human Aggression?

Crossed: A Pastor and an Atheist Debate

April 8, 2017

“Since civilisation began, aggression has been useful inasmuch as it has definite survival advantages. It is hard-wired into our genes by Darwinian evolution. Now, however, technology has advanced at such a pace that this aggression may destroy us all by nuclear or biological war. We need to control this inherited instinct by our logic and reason.”

– Stephen Hawking, Jan. 2017

Gary’s Statement
Human beings have always been a murderous species. A recent study from the University of Granada concluded that today’s humans are average among primates, an especially violent segment of mammals. We can take solace in the fact that the rate of lethal violence among our own kind pales in comparison to the meerkat, killing its peers at a rate of about 1 in 5.

Since most of us would agree that any reduction in violence is a plus, the problem becomes how best to accomplish this. As Hawking notes, nuclear war could easily destroy most life on Earth, and it currently rests in the hands of a man devoid of reason and logic.

What part might religion play in this? It could be beneficial as long as we are discussing the ability of large groups to organize toward mutual goals. If, on the other hand, we are talking about an individual praying to a god or faith that a supernatural deity will intervene, nothing much will change. It never has and never will.

Religion hasn’t been a useful tool for international problem solving. In fact, it has historically created more problems than it has solved. Any time you subdivide humans into categories, you create competing groups that are certain their methods are optimal and alternatives are peripheral.

Jonathan Haidt, author of the 2012 best seller “The Righteous Mind” and a professor at New York University states, “When something becomes a religion, we don’t choose the actions that are most likely to solve the problem. We do the things that are the most ritually satisfying.” Since rituals vary with each religion, problem-solving also varies.

The key to minimizing international aggression is to eliminate separations among people and work towards governing on a world-wide scale. Those who wish to meditate or pray to a god can realize amazing internal benefits. However, neither will accomplish much in the way of limiting aggression beyond one’s self.

Bill’s Statement
“Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.”  Proverbs 29:11 (NIV)

Hardwired with aggression for the sake of our survival, human beings have taken this evolutionary necessity to the next level, or so says Stephen Hawking. With our technological advances, we have the capacity to destroy all humanity biologically or by employing the nuclear option. Mr. Hawking believes “We need to control this inherited instinct by our logic and reason.” Is logic and reason enough?

Logic and reason, what we might call knowledge, are learned and limited by our capacity for each. While every generation expands this capacity for knowledge, building on the truths discovered generations before, the process reveals our limitations and reliance on future generations.

We may one day learn to control our aggressive instincts for a time, but surely we will also find new ways to enhance our aggression. Like a corkscrew, we will have circled around to the same challenge, managing our instinctive aggression, but at a higher level. Knowledge (reason and logic) alone is not the answer. We need Divine Wisdom.

Knowledge and wisdom (human) are often used interchangeably. But like knowledge, human wisdom is learned. We grow wise in our understanding with age and experience. We benefit from the instruction of others.

Wisdom (Divine) is understood to be God’s Holy Spirit. Christ was wisdom incarnate. Such wisdom cannot be learned, but comes only by revelation. Only by wisdom can we learn to put away our anger, control our aggression, and “turn our swords into plowshares” – transforming enemies and aggressors into friends through Divine Wisdom and love.

“They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.”  Isaiah 2:4 (NIV)

Gary’s Reply
Bill’s quotes emanate from one of history’s most violent novels – the Bible. Are we to believe that wisdom is somehow sourced in “revelation,” not genetics and education? There have been some incredibly wise non-theistic peacemakers throughout history including Mahatma Gandhi, Thomas Jefferson, Joyce Carol Oates, Greta Christiana, and thousands more. The list of violent religious figures is exhausting.

Most aggression is sourced within a basic human instinct (for the religious, instilled by a god) to be suspicious and fearful of those who are different. We are all naturally racist and sexist to some extent. Those feelings intensify when similar people bind together behind their religion, nationality, or gender.

Gender and racial equality have taken lengthy strides forward over the past 60 years. Today’s millennials are more accommodating to those who are different than were people of their parents’ generation. They are also less religious. Societies improve with education and understanding, and stagnate when saddled with primitive belief systems.

We can best reduce aggression by eliminating barriers to human interaction. Religion is one of those barriers.

Bill’s Reply
“You have heard it said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.”  Gary, these are the words of Jesus Christ, recorded in the Gospel of Matthew. They are not logical or reasonable, at least to those who believe their enemies must be destroyed. To them, what makes sense is to be stronger than our enemies, so we may destroy them before they destroy us. Only Divine Wisdom offers us an alternative.

Restore relationships. Transform enemies to friends. How? Love! Love our neighbors, even our enemies, as we love ourselves. Are my neighbors hungry? Then I must share my food. Thirsty? A cup of clean water. Lonely? Friendship. Grieving? Comfort. Sick? Healing. Who is my neighbor? Who isn’t? 

You are right that divisions – economic, political, ethnic, racial, gender, even religious – bring contempt and aggression, if we empower them. But faith, in the power of God’s love to redeem, will make us well.

Agree Statement
Bill and Gary agree that the keys to reducing aggression lie within the ability of each of us to look beyond our differences and educate ourselves about other cultures, religious beliefs, and socio-economic systems.