Dr. Robert Sapolsky's lecture about Biological Underpinnings of Religiosity
Aprendiendo Juntos2 HN recommenders · recommended in 2 months, 2014–2025
lecture · general · evergreen · 2014–2025 on HN
Robert Sapolsky's Stanford lecture on the biological underpinnings of religiosity, from his human behavioral biology course. It covers theories linking religion to stress, and schizotypal traits.
Recommended when religion, mental health or psychedelics come up, for Sapolsky's biological framing.
Up next
11 mo on HNLight Years Ahead | The 1969 Apollo Guidance Computer
TNMoC
11 HN recommender · 2021–2026
8 mo on HNMusic Software & Bad Interface Design: Avid’s Sibelius
Tantacrul
8 HN recommender · 2019–2026
16 mo on HNHow to Speak
MIT OpenCourseWare
17 HN recommender · 2020–2025
15 mo on HN1. Introduction to Human Behavioral Biology
Stanford
15 HN recommender · 2012–2026
14 mo on HNLEADERSHIP LAB: The Craft of Writing Effectively
UChicago Social Sciences
15 HN recommender · 2019–2026
13 mo on HNMIT's Pathway to Fusion Energy (IAP 2017) - Zach Hartwig
MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center
16 HN recommender · 2017–2023
12 mo on HNStanford's Sapolsky On Depression in U.S. (Full Lecture)
Stanford
14 HN recommender · 2009–2026
12 mo on HNJustice: What's The Right Thing To Do? Episode 01 "THE MORAL SIDE OF MURDER"
Harvard University
11 HN recommender · 2013–2025
12 mo on HNLec 1 | MIT 18.06 Linear Algebra, Spring 2005
MIT OpenCourseWare
11 HN recommender · 2011–2020
12 mo on HNRandy Pausch's Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams
Carnegie Mellon University
12 HN recommender · 2008–2023
10 mo on HNLecture 1A: Overview and Introduction to Lisp
MIT OpenCourseWare
10 HN recommender · 2019–2026
9 mo on HNLecture 1A | MIT 6.001 Structure and Interpretation, 1986
MIT OpenCourseWare
11 HN recommender · 2012–2024
4 comments from Hacker News
Here's a lecture by Robert Sapolsky where he goes into some theories involving schizotypal individuals (and other mental disorders) and culture: ▶ this video Long story short, the theory goes that being schizotypal (but not full-blown schizophrenic) could be an advantageous trait in human society, usually by filling some spiritual, ritual, or religious role in the group. These people are high status in their societies, and have many chances for passing on their genes.
You're exagerating the parent's claims. It is possible that religion can reduce stress, and help against depression without being an absolute defense. Our brain may just be wired that way. This doesn't even involve God or the supernatural actually existing for these effects to be real. You should check some of the talks, and lectures by Robert Sapolsky (an atheist), who advances this in several of them. Biological Underpinnings of Religiosity: ▶ this video Religion Is Nature's Antidepressant: link
Biology, chemical biology and parts of non-traditional chemistry, are some of the most political and elitist fields outside of social sciences. How and what is taught is not necessarily science based only, let alone, who gets in the PhD programs in the first place. Organismic and Evolutionary Biologists, like Robert Sapolsky, are right in the middle of culture wars, and always on the same side: ▶ this video
"Get it wrong, and we call it a cult. Get it right, in the right time and the right place, and maybe, for the next few millennia, people won't have to go to work on your birthday." - Dr. Robert Sapolsky ▶ this video