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Published: Feb. 19, 2022, noon

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Jane Goodall has seen wild chimpanzees dance and bristle with excitement around roaring waterfalls \\u2014 and she thinks it\\u2019s an experience of awe and wonder \\u2014 and possibly a precursor to animistic religion.\\xa0

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But can we ever know why our ancient human ancestors developed spiritual beliefs? Can evolutionary science uncover the roots of religion? \\xa0

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At some point our ancestors went from admiring waterfalls to worshipping them - and all kinds of spirits and gods. They developed sacred rituals and turned stones into totems. And then came the Battle of the Gods.\\xa0

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This\\xa0was produced in partnership with the Center for Humans and Nature, an organization that brings together scholars from a diversity of disciplines to think creatively about our relationships with nature and each other. What do you think evolution can tell us about love and morality? Share your thoughts at\\xa0humansandnature.org. This episode was made possible through the support of the John Templeton Foundation.

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Original Air Date:\\xa0May 14, 2017

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Guests:\\xa0

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Jane Goodall\\xa0\\u2014\\xa0Laura Kehoe\\xa0\\u2014\\xa0Frans de Waal\\xa0\\u2014\\xa0Barbara King\\xa0\\u2014\\xa0Ara Norenzayan\\xa0\\u2014\\xa0Jeff Schloss\\xa0\\u2014\\xa0Andrew Newberg

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Interviews In This Hour:\\xa0

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Do Chimpanzees Have Spiritual Experiences?\\xa0\\u2014\\xa0How \'Big Gods\' Transformed Human History\\xa0\\u2014\\xa0An Evolutionary Biologist Searches for God\\xa0\\u2014\\xa0What Bliss Looks Like In Your Brain\\xa0\\u2014\\xa0Are Morals a Part of Our Evolution?

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Further Reading:

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Center for Humans and Nature

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Never want to miss an episode?\\xa0Subscribe to the podcast.

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