The Evolution of Religions: A History of Related Traditions

The Evolution of Religions: A History of Related Traditions Lance Grande The Emeritus Negaunee Distinguished Service Curator Field Museum of Natural and Cultural History, Chicago 12/06/23 Thousands of religions have adherents today, and countless more have existed throughout history. What accounts for this astonishing diversity? In this presentation, Lance Grande—a leading evolutionary systematist—demonstrates how evolutionary systematics and philosophy can yield new insight into the development of organized religion. He examines the growth and diversification of hundreds of religions over time, highlighting their historical interrelationships. Combining evolutionary theory with a wealth of cultural records and using an illuminating graphic system of evolutionary trees, he explores the formation, extinction, and diversification of different world religions, including the many branches of Asian cyclicism, polytheism, and monotheism. The Evolution of Religions marshals compelling evidence that if you go back far enough in time, all major belief systems are related, despite the many conflicts that have taken place among them. By emphasizing these broad historical interconnections, this book promotes the need for greater tolerance and deeper, unbiased understanding of cultural diversity. Such understanding and tolerance may be necessary traits for the future survival of humanity. Time is allocated for Q&A.