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A Scientist’s New Theory: Religion Was Key to Humans’ Social Evolution

posted on February 28, 2017

The Washington Post’s Julie Zauzmer reports that an evolutionary psychology professor at Oxford University is working to prove that religion has contributed to humans’ social tendencies and intelligence. The professor, Robin Dunbar, has already published research that demonstrates laughter and singing, especially in groups, release endorphins and facilitate connections between people. Zauzmer writes, “Researchers have shown that doing these activities in synchronized fashion with other people drastically magnifies the endorphin-producing effect: Picture the coordinated bowing that is central to Muslim, Jewish and Catholic worship.”

Read at The Washington Post