Why We Believe in God(s) (book by Anderson Thomson)

[Alex]

Why We Believe in God(s): A Concise Guide to the Science of Faith
Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Pitchstone Publishing (June 1, 2011)
ISBN-10: 0984493212
ISBN-13: 978-0984493210

http://whywebelieveingods.com
http://www.jandersonthomson.com/why-we-believe-in-gods/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0984493212
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10361826

Why We Believe In God(s) provides a brief and accessible guide to the exciting new discoveries that allow us to finally understand why and how the human mind generates, accepts, and spreads religious beliefs.

"One by one, the…components of religion—community worship, obedience to priestly authority, ritual—receive the Thomson treatment. Every point he makes has the ring of truth, abetted by a crisp style and vivid imagery. Andy Thomson is an outstandingly persuasive lecturer, and it shines through his writing. This short, punchy book will be swiftly read—and long remembered."
—Foreword by Richard Dawkins, author of The God Delusion

[Alex]

A good customer review at Amazon:


Incomplete but interesting 
By Jack D. Eller (Denver, CO United States)
April 16, 2011  
http://www.amazon.com/review/RAZO4SUT3JF5L

Thomson's tiny book (114 miniature pages) is a commendable introduction to the emerging science of religion. Those who are unfamiliar with the new convergence of psychology, biology, and anthropology in evolutionary-cognitive theory will find the book useful for getting them started on the subject. (Those already familiar with the much more substantial treatments of Boyer, Atran, Guthrie, Kirkpatrick, de Waal, and others will not learn anything new here.) The book suffers from its very brevity: for instance, in the discussion of human evolution in chapter 2, no dates or descriptions are included with the names of various species. Also, the book commits the standard error of virtually all studies of religion, namely conflating theism--and sometimes specifically CHRISTIAN theism--with religion. For example, on page 32, it says that "All religions...begin with belief in one or more central holy figures or teachers." That is not quite accurate: not all religions even include a notion of "the holy." Later on the page Thomson admits that he will only discuss one religion, but that makes the entire point of the evolutionary theory of religion moot, since Christianity was most assuredly not the first religion to evolve, nor was theism a part of that first religion. On page 46 Thomson says that "Religions give us supernormal 'parents,' magnificent attachment figures..." but the reality is that not all religions imagine their spirit-beings as parents either. That is likewise a very Christian way of thinking. So, this little book is a decent starting place to learn about the latest thinking on the human and social origins of religion, but use it as a jumping-off point into the more detailed and culturally-informed literature that puts theism in its place--late in the religion game, as a branch of a branch of the evolving religion tree.


Comments under this review:

David T. says:
What other more complete book would you recommend?

satan augustine says:
David T. - based on the authors he's mentioned in his review and the bibliography of his own book Atheism Advanced (written under the name David Eller), he's referring to:

1) Religion Explained: The Evolutionary Origins of Religious Thought by Pascal Boyer
2) In Gods We Trust: The Evolutionary Landscape of Religion (Evolution and Cognition Series) by Scott Atran
3) Attachment, Evolution, and the Psychology of Religion by Lee A. Kirkpatrick
4) Primates and Philosophers: How Morality Evolved (Princeton Science Library) by Frans de Waal, Stephen Macedo and Josiah Ober

I haven't read any of these personally, but I've heard good things about Boyer's and Atran's books. He also mentions an author named Guthrie, but I'm not sure who that is. Maybe Jack David will respond. Hope this helps. : )

BTW, I recommend Atheism Advanced.

[Alex]

Religious believers are acting in accord with evolution
June 28, 2011
http://hinessight.blogs.com/church_of_the_churchless/2011/06/religious-believers-are-acting-in-accord-with-evolution.html



Church of the Churchless' Brian Hines blogged on this book. (I told him about this book.)

[Alex]

Understanding Suicide Terrorism Ten Years After 9/11
By Dr. Andy Thomson - Recorded in Wilmington, NC
9/11/2011
http://www.capefearhumanists.com/drthomson.php

On the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks our speaker was Dr. Andy Thomson, a forensic psychiatrist who has made a study of the religious motivations behind suicide terrorism.

Religion is a cultural construct, a product of human minds. For the first time in human history, the cognitive neuroscience of religious belief has been mapped out. Many of the evolved cognitive adaptations which generate religious beliefs can be exploited to motivate suicide terrorism.

Male bonded coalitionary violence, with lethal raiding against innocents is as old as our species, even older. The capacity is embedded in all males.

The potential for suicide resides in all of us, both males and females. The evidence suggests two types of evolved suicide potentials: negative inclusive fitness, and retaliation bargaining. The first arises from a sense of burdensomeness and animates female suicide bombers. The second originates from positions of humiliation and powerlessness and characterizes male suicide bombers.

This makes religion the most powerful ideology that can simultaneously hijack the evolved capacities for lethal raiding and suicide.

[Alex]

Thank you for sharing this link. The key is in this statement: "Religion is a cultural construct, a product of human minds." As critics of theism, we too often make the mistake of focusing on the relative merits of the arguments for the existence of a god, i.e., a supreme being. That takes the focus off the hands-down best explanation for theistic belief.

Paul LaClair to A forum for friends of religious humanism <[e-mail]>
September 18, 2011