[This is the 7th in the series Religion and Science: A Beautiful
Friendship.] In this 7th part of the series, we take a look at
some religious proverbs that have become woven into the fabric
of civilization: the golden rule, “an eye for an eye, a tooth
for a tooth,” “turn the other cheek,” and the idea of universal
dignity. “An eye for an eye” is best understood not as a formula
for retribution or punishment, but rather as a simple
descriptive model of how humans behave. When we’re injured or
abused, our immediate impulse is to do unto the perpetrator
what’s been done to us. We call it biblical justice. Often,
victims of predation are not satisfied with merely getting even,
but rather are inclined to “better the instruction,” as Shylock
points out in The Merchant of Venice. Escalation follows. Not to
stand up to the perpetrator of a predatory act is to signal
weakness and invite a follow-up that may bring death or
enslavement. It may be hard to tell who started a feud because
the initial act of predation lies