Religion Explained: The Human Instincts That Fashion Gods, Spirits and Ancestors - Hardcover

Boyer, Pascal

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0434008435 ISBN 13: 9780434008438

Publisher: William Heinemann Ltd, 2001

Synopsis

Pascal Boyer explores the commonalities of religious belief, bringing the new tools of cognitive science and evolutionary psychology to bear on the ways in which beliefs reflect human needs and the ways in which our minds work.

About this title

Review

What's it all about? Cognitive anthropologist Pascal Boyer tackles this question in the unapologetically titled Religion Explained, and is sure to polarise his readers. Some will think it's an impermissible invasion of mental territory beyond the reach of reason, others will see it as the first step toward a more complete understanding of human nature--and Boyer is acutely aware of the emotionally-charged nature of his work. This knowledge informs his decision to proceed without caution, as he warns readers early on that most will risk being offended by some of his considerations. Laying aside one's biases as best as one can will bring great rewards; Boyer's wide scholarship and knack for elegant writing are reasons enough for reading.

That gods and spirits are construed very much like persons is probably one of the best known traits of religion. Indeed, the Greeks had already noticed that people create gods in their own image ... All this is familiar, indeed so familiar that for a long time anthropologists forgot that this propensity requires an explanation. Why then are gods and spirits so much like humans?

Peppering his study with examples from all over the world, particularly the Fang people of Africa, Boyer offers plenty of evidence for his theory that religious institutions exist to maintain particular threads of social integrity. Though he uses the tools of evolutionary psychology, he is more careful than most EP proponents to avoid ad hoc and circular arguments. Best of all, at least to those unmortified at the idea of critically examining religion, his theories are potentially testable. Even if he turns out to be dead wrong, at least Religion Explained offers a new and powerful framework for thinking about our spiritual lives. --Rob Lightner

Review

An excellent book in the spirit of the French Enlightenment, broadly learned and with modern behavioural science added. -- E. O. Wilson

This is a bold far-reaching book. His explanation of religion is lucid, entertaining, full of valuable insights. -- Lord Habgood, Time Higher

Edition details

• Publisher: William Heinemann Ltd
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0434008435
• ISBN 13: 9780434008438
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 448