FROM ME TO HIM: THE EVOLUTION AND GROWTH

DEVELOPMENT FROM WHO YOU CURRENTLY ARE TO

WHO YOU WANT TO BE

8.1 Introduction:

Darwin’s theory of evolution relies on dualism. Either-or and if-then are dualism referred to
as tandem dualism. Then there is the dualism of genotype and phenotype; phenotype is the
total representation of an individual's physical characteristics due to the interaction of the
genetic program with the environment during ontogeny. The relationship between human and
God in the theological context act on the principle of dualism when one aspect is the power
and the other needs to be submissive. Human will and values are set predominantly on the
principles of the universe.

8.2 Biological evolution:

Religion and religious practices have existed throughout history and are evident today in
every corner of the world. Religion is a key modulator of collective and individual behaviour
in a society. From good behaviour, including charitable and unselfish, to bad behaviour, like
oppression and cruelty, the influence of religion over the human mind is noticeable in every
aspect of life.

Religions make statements about metaphysics, and in doing so, it has to have control over the
human mind. Metaphysical considerations relate biologically to the human mind, which
evolves biologically and manifests phenomena such as ‘naïve dualism’, ‘teleological
thought’, ‘psychological essentialism’, ‘theory of mind’, ‘agency detective device’, ‘intuitive
ontology’, and a few more.

Children under the age of 5 think teleologically. For instance, their thought process works
like there is a cloud, so there is rain, and so does the flower bloom. Children attribute
omniscience to every person in their immediate environment. They do not only think
realistically but relate their mental state to a dead person and keep the assumption of life after
death. Children's way of thinking differs; teleological, dualistic, and conscious thinking
attributes lay the basis of their cognitive processes. Bulbulia in 2007 believed that children
appear to be born to believe, and Kelemen in 2004 suggested that children are intuitive
theists. The theories' conclusion suggests that the human mind's design is such that it
believes.

Therefore, it is apparent that there is no necessity to learn religiosity arduously. It

automatically results from the cognitive equipment. Also, D’Aquili suggests that one of the
characteristics of the human mind is cognitive imperative forces. The cognitive forces
influence one to reflect on the regularities and rules of experiences continually. The human
mind works as a generator of stories and is compelled to find reasons and causes, even in
places without reason. It views nature and the environment as a plausible and coherent
design. The human mind does not stand contingencies and irrationality because what is not
understood provokes fear.

8.3 Theories of evolution and genesis:

An intelligent being exists by whom everything in the universe moves toward its destiny, and
that being is called God. Thomas Aquinas acquired five arguments or ways for illustrating
God’s existence in the summa theologiae that describe the purposefulness of the universe.

Thomas Paley, in natural theology, compared the layout of a telescope and the human eye
and suggested that the designers of both are different, one by the telescope engineer and the
other by the same authority that exquisitely designed wings, gills, eyes, and everything the
universe to perform their distinctive function in the most elaborate way of life.

Theology identifies three types of evil: one is virtuous corruption or sin as conceived by
human beings, while the other is pain or misery as encountered by human beings, and the
third is natural calamities like earthquakes, floods, and tornados. Theology recognises the
first two kinds of evil, where sin is an outcome of unrestricted wishes, while the flip side of
vice is integrity, also an impact of unrestricted will. Some religions believe that if human
needs to meet their maker, they need to attain some degree of independence and liberation.
An ethical life earns the infinite honour of paradise. Theology also explains human pain and
suffering as a consequence of war and wrongdoing, where humans choose to inflict harm on
each other. At the same time, there is a virtuous side where humans alleviate others suffering.

The theory of natural selection describes the evolution of different species and various
processes on earth, like the occurrence of floods and tornados as a consequence of the fabric
of the material world. At the same time, parasites and predators, diseases, and dysfunction are
the productions of the evolution of life. Science and theological beliefs are not contradictory
but a friend in disguise.

8.4 Evolutionary trajectory:

Archaeologists are confident in the origin of religion, which can be dated back to the first
formal burial practice with grab goods from 50,000 BCE. In contrast, the traces of cognitive
antecedents of humans date back from the hominid evolutionary functioning. There is a
further assertion that religious patterns are socially advantageous due to cultural segregation.
It is also a belief that religious believers alter their behaviour to avoid supernatural retaliation.

The concept of misfortune was evident among human ancestors and may increasingly be
related to the presence of God and dead predecessors. The violation of religious norms is
generally recognised as a sin and is prone to punishment by God, as perceived in various
religions. Therefore, many human behaviours apparent today are related to the supernatural
or ultra-human powers controlled by God. It is per the severance of many worldly wishes
adopted to gratify God or as a continuity of religious norms.

Negative events in life characterise guilelessly the intention of the divine power in the context
of moral values. People tend to believe that people get what they deserve, though, with little
to no control over negative events. The innate cognitive ability of a people is a predisposing
factor to believe that God is involved in the onset of unfavourable events in life.

8.5 Understanding diversity of life:

Living organisms evolve to meet the challenges of the environment. Survival of the fittest is a
vast terminology holding the mysteries of the universe. From reptiles to mammals, plants to
animals, as per theoretical and practical observation, everything evolved in a certain way and
with the best possible outcome. The first challenge is the continuously challenging and
immensely diversified environment, the resources of which are not inexhaustible.

Mutation is a genetic variation that is a coping mechanism for changing environments.

Bacteria and viruses, for instance, are unicellular organisms with not-so-complex structures
and able to mutate at a much faster rate with the ability to produce millions of mutants
according to the environment. The phenomenon adopted by viruses makes them less
susceptible to the environment and resistant to the medications against them.

The behavioural changes in humans work in a similar capacity where vulnerable and harmful
surroundings. Behavioural changes represent a five-stage model that goes pre-contemplation,
stunning, decision/determination, action, and maintenance. From the first spark of thought to
the point of decision-making and executing the thought, it is controlled entirely by the human
mind.

There are more than 3 million species of plant and animal on earth, perhaps more than 5
million. What makes such diverse natural species coexist with each other? Darwin puzzled
with the same question and succeeded in acquiring the reason for such a phenomenal
mechanism that stood and proved with time. For two species to coexist, there must be
differences in the utilisation of resources in a way to reduce competition.

8.6 Growth of information from past to future:

Knowledge acquisition is more important than ever to evolve and develop positively. There is
undoubtedly a slump of knowledge in any discipline. The regression appears due to the undue
presence of erroneous ideologies and unproductive theories. The adaptation of
noncompetitive knowledge by an individual is a major issue in present times. As you
validated, data pose a greater problem in understanding the situation realistically and
rationally. Only some individuals are accustomed to understanding the whole idea about a
theory or situation and only get a slice of information.

According to Bartley, growth and development have a favourable undertone, and the growth
of knowledge is a movement towards truth. Changes in ideas, thoughts, and behaviour need
to be evaluated and compared with the standard criteria. There are no preset features of the
behavioural changes or a formal route to measure them. However, human knowledge grows
with the method of divergence and preference. Also, knowledge about the environment is
assimilated into an organism and replicates itself in future generations in an evolutionary
adaptation process. Some information in the process is lost, too, with the disappearance of
species in the evolution cycle.

8.7 Conclusion:

Spiritual transformations like phenotypic and genotypic changes are apparent at times of
adversity or in search of the real self. Self-acclamation is necessary to gain strength in
holding beliefs and faith. Therefore, likewise, in evolutionary transformations in the
biological context, people undergo spiritual change, sometimes for better and other times for
bad, especially when led by misinformation.

8.8 References:

The Biological Evolution of Religious Mind and Behavior. (2009). Germany: Springer Berlin
Heidelberg.

Ayala, F. (2007). Darwin's Gift to Science and Religion. United States: National Academies
Press.

Dein, S., & Littlewood, R. (2011). Religion and psychosis: A common evolutionary
trajectory? Transcultural psychiatry, 48(3), 318-335.

Mayr E. (1976). Evolution and the diversity of life. Belknap.

Bartley, W. W. (1993). Unfathomed Knowledge. Philosophy of the Social Sciences, 23(1),

97-102.