Evolution, part 1

Have you had the experience of skipping the gym or aerobics for a few weeks, and finding yourself very out of shape? And it seems like it takes a long time to get back in the shape you were in? And it's just so damn discouraging?

Due to my travel schedule, it seems like I'm often in that position. I used to curse how quickly I would lose aerobic conditioning or muscle strength, and wonder why it seemed that evolution had backfired. I mean, wouldn't it make more sense if it were easier to get back in shape than harder?

Recently, though, I've been thinking that maybe evolution does have it right. Maybe it's better to select for humans with willpower who will overcome hurdles than to select for humans who can quickly regain lost physical ability.

Evolution, part 2

I just finished reading the second book in Dan Simmon's Hyperion Cantos books. One of the interesting things in the first two books is the notion of the "evolution of gods" (or of mankind's relationship to god). Part of this idea is that initially the relationship between man and god required that man (Abraham) sacrifice his child (Isaac). Later, parents sacrifice themselves to save their children. The next "evolutionary" step in god's development is that "no sacrifice be necessary". (OK, I'm glossing over a lot here, just go with me).

An interesting twist is when one of the characters "realizes" that Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac not to prove his (Abraham's) obedience to god, but as a test to see whether god was worthy of worship -- that any god which would actually require such a sacrifice wasn't worthy of worship.

All that stuff got me thinking about the "spiritual evolution" of mankind, and got me wondering whether the whole Jesus (and Muhammad) thing was really a test from god to see if mankind was worthy. I think that based on what happened 2000 years ago, and what has happened since (the crusades, various wars including the current one), I'd have to wonder whether mankind has evolved at all and is worthy of divine intervention.