Direction In Evolution

To imply that genes “seek” or “strive” to survive and reproduce successfully, and that they create culture and even religion to enhance their survival, seems to give a “cause,” or “direction,” to the genes. But evolutionary thinkers do not really want to give a “cause” to natural selection, other than the cause of successful survival. Why should there be this “cause?” It just “is,” the evolutionists might say, sounding not unlike some religious people.

This conception of “striving,” is central to religion, as John Haught has written about in "Deeper Than Darwin." And it is logical, it seems to me, to apply the same “direction” of striving regarding religion as one does to the genes: striving for survival of the genes when hypertrophied, means striving for the immortality of the genes; and immortality has defined Godhood. This is the biological “teleology” that evolutionary thinking seems to lead to, although all evolutionary thinkers want to deny “direction” in evolution. There is direction in evolution, and life’s striving is directed toward immortal survival, which has always been defined as Godhood.

We identify the striving, the cause behind evolution as the activating Spirit-Will, which activates life before life is shaped by evolution.