John Teehan 
In the Name of God 
The Evolutionary Origins of Religious Ethics and Violence

Religion is one of the most powerful forces running through human
history, and although often presented as a force for good, its
impact is frequently violent and divisive. This provocative work
brings together cutting-edge research from both evolutionary and
cognitive psychology to help readers understand the psychological
structure of religious morality and the origins of religious
violence.

* Introduces a fundamentally new approach to the analysis of
religion in a style accessible to the general reader

* Applies insights from evolutionary and cognitive psychology to
both Judaism and Christianity, and their texts, to help understand
the origins of religious violence

* Argues that religious violence is grounded in the moral
psychology of religion

* Illustrates its controversial argument with reference to the
9/11 terrorist attacks, and the response to the attacks from both
the terrorists and the President. Suggests strategies for beginning
to counter the divisive aspects of religion

* Discusses the role of religion and religious criticism in the
contemporary world. Argues for a position sceptical of the moral
authority of religion, while also critiquing the excesses of the
‘new atheists’ for failing to appreciate the moral
contributions of religion

* Awarded Honourable Mention, 2010 Prose Awards

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Acknowledgments.

Introduction: Evolution and Mind.

1. The Evolution of Morality.

Setting the Task.

The Moral Brain.

The First Layer: Kin Selection.

The Second Layer: Reciprocal Altruism.

A Third Layer: Indirect Reciprocity.

A Fourth Layer: Cultural Group Selection.

A Fifth Layer: The Moral Emotions.

Conclusion: From Moral Grammar to Moral Systems.

2. The Evolution of Moral Religions.

Setting the Task.

The Evolution of the Religious Mind.

Conceptualizing the Almighty.

The Moral Function of Gods.

3. Evolutionary Religious Ethics: Judaism.

Setting the Task.

Constructing Yahweh.

The Ten Commandments: An Evolutionary Interpretation.

Conclusion: The Evolved Law.

4. Evolutionary Religious Ethics:
Christianity.

Setting the Task.

Constructing the Christ.

Setting the Boundaries: Christian and/or Jew?.

The Third Race: Christians as In-Group.

Putting on Christ: Christianity’s Signals of
Commitment.

Loving Your Neighbor and Turning the Other Cheek.

5. Religion, Violence, and the Evolved Mind.

Setting the Task.

Devoted to Destruction: Sanctified Violence and Judaism.

The Blood of the Lamb.

A Case Study in the Evolved Psychology of Religious Violence:
9/11.

6. Religion Evolving.

Setting the Task.

Varieties of Religious Expressions.

If There Were No God ….

Religion, Ethics, and Violence: An Assessment.

Responding to Religion, Ethics, and Violence: Some
Proposals.

Conclusions.

Notes.

Bibliography.

Index.

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John Teehan is Associate Professor of Religion at Hofstra University. He is the author of numerous articles on the impact of evolutionary studies on morality and religion, as well as studies on the philosophy of John Dewey.