What is the evolutionary advantage of religious belief?

Following a talk about his book The God Delusion, for the University of Liverpool in February 2008, biologist Richard Dawkins was asked the following question:

Religion is widespread at least historically, perhaps universal, and human specific. My question to you is do you think religion or religious belief evolved in humans and if so did it confer an evolutionary advantage?

Dawkins' response is here:



The full talk with Q+A is below the belt.

Richard Dawkins Public Lecture - Liverpool 2008

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