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6th out of 20 books
—
2 voters
Why We Believe in God(s): A Concise Guide to the Science of Faith
by
J. Anderson Thomson Jr.,
Clare Aukofer, Richard Dawkins (Goodreads Author)
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....more
Paperback, 144 pages
Published
June 1st 2011
by Pitchstone Publishing
(first published 2011)
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God is a creation of man's mind--not vice versa. That's the basic thesis of this work by psychiatrist Andy Thomson, with Clare Aukofer. Drawing on the latest research from the neurosciences and longstanding insights from cognitive psychology, it explains in clear, accessible language how and why the human mind is primed for (or, as the book says, hijacked by) religion and all the beliefs that religion entails. Sam Harris sums up the merits of the book the best with this line: "If you would like...more
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This book, slim as it is, offers a brilliant overview of the byproduct theory of religious belief, and, from the description given, it seems to be plenty valid. And though it is an overview, it still seems sufficiently thorough, and in depth. I feel like I have a good understanding of the subject matter, and could very well describe it to someone else (or, more likely, whip it out in an argument.) The text is full of interesting examples and hypotheticals, playing on experiences we've all had. I...more
I decided to read this book to try to understand the point of view of scientists who believe that religion does not coincide with their version of science. I found the book to be interesting, however the fact that Thomson used Darwin's evolution theory throughout the book seemed repetitive. As a christian, I have found that the miracles of science can only be explained by admitting and accepting that there is a Creator. To think the world was created from a single cell organism or a "Big Bang" h...more
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I enjoyed this book and I learned a great deal from it. I found it informative and concise, but I did have a problem with the way it was presented.
Whether you believe in some deity or you don't, you can agree on the premise of this book — human beings invent gods. If you're a Christian, you still believe that human beings invent gods in their mind. You think that Buddhists do it, you think that the ancient Greeks did it, essentially everyone accept for you. Because your god is real. Atheists ob...more
Whether you believe in some deity or you don't, you can agree on the premise of this book — human beings invent gods. If you're a Christian, you still believe that human beings invent gods in their mind. You think that Buddhists do it, you think that the ancient Greeks did it, essentially everyone accept for you. Because your god is real. Atheists ob...more
Religion is a by-product of evolutionary psychological adaptations
I read the text of the book first and then read the foreward and preface. Low and behold, the book is also a video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iMmvu... In fact, he made the video first and just expanded it a bit for the book. Whilst my family did not read the book, they did watch the video.
The book is an introduction, and it says "concise" on the cover. Remember that when you read it, because it IS an introduction and it IS...more
I read the text of the book first and then read the foreward and preface. Low and behold, the book is also a video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iMmvu... In fact, he made the video first and just expanded it a bit for the book. Whilst my family did not read the book, they did watch the video.
The book is an introduction, and it says "concise" on the cover. Remember that when you read it, because it IS an introduction and it IS...more
May 04, 2012
David
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
All curious about human nature and belief.
Recommended to David by:
National Atheist Party
This was a very interesting buy and one that I would strongly recommend to believers and non-believers alike.
When believers are asked, "Why do you believe this way?" the most common answer is "Faith." So is one's belief in "faith" nurtured or learned? Dr. J. Anderson Thomson and medical writer Claire Aukofer suggests both.
Dr. Thomson is a “forensic psychiatrist,” and works with the University of Virginia and the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science. However, this does not mean this...more
When believers are asked, "Why do you believe this way?" the most common answer is "Faith." So is one's belief in "faith" nurtured or learned? Dr. J. Anderson Thomson and medical writer Claire Aukofer suggests both.
Dr. Thomson is a “forensic psychiatrist,” and works with the University of Virginia and the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science. However, this does not mean this...more
Why We Believe in God(s): A Concise Guide to the Science of Faith by J. Anderson Thomson, Jr., MD with Clare Aukofer
"Why We Believe in God(s)" is the brief yet commendable book that studies faith through the eyes of science. This 144-page book is composed of ten chapters: 1. In the Beginning Was the Word: Our Propensity to Believe, 2. In the Image and Likeness: Evolution 101, 3. Our Daily Bread: Craving a Caretaker, 4. All That is Seen and Unseen: Conceiving Souls, 5. Because the Bible Tells Me...more
"Why We Believe in God(s)" is the brief yet commendable book that studies faith through the eyes of science. This 144-page book is composed of ten chapters: 1. In the Beginning Was the Word: Our Propensity to Believe, 2. In the Image and Likeness: Evolution 101, 3. Our Daily Bread: Craving a Caretaker, 4. All That is Seen and Unseen: Conceiving Souls, 5. Because the Bible Tells Me...more
Andy Thomson answers the question that I've always had on my mind: What was religion like before gods were invented? We merely have to take notice of Native American or African tribal dances and rituals. Ancient societies had a loose set of rules which were made up on the fly, i.e., if a young girl died and it rained, the next time rain was needed a young girl had to die. Ignoring, of course, the days it rained when it wasn't needed. In 2012, we have supposedly unalterable rules that were though...more
Warning: I got this book from the goodreads first-reads giveaway, but I don't think that influenced my rating.
I think the question of why do so many humans have an innate drawing towards religion is a good one and its one which this book attempts to answer. I can't tell how many times I've heard we have a God shaped hole in us, this desire for the supernatural. Basically this book views religion as misfires from our evolution, a “fast-food” mentality. Fast-food analogy is used because fatty / s...more
I think the question of why do so many humans have an innate drawing towards religion is a good one and its one which this book attempts to answer. I can't tell how many times I've heard we have a God shaped hole in us, this desire for the supernatural. Basically this book views religion as misfires from our evolution, a “fast-food” mentality. Fast-food analogy is used because fatty / s...more
This is an amazing little book. It's only 144 pages (including the foreword, preface, notes, and short glossary) but it packs quite a punch. Dr. Thomson succinctly and clearly explains why man has created and believed in gods since we evolved into homo sapiens and still believe in them today. He offers medical and psychological data and experiments as his evidence and understandable logic to guide you through his arguments (Michael Persinger's "God Helmet" experiments sounded especially fascinat...more
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I have always, always wondered this for years... I really can't wait for this book to come out so I can find out what are some of the reasons out there.
In
Why We Believe in God(s)
, psychiatrist J. Anderson Thomson Jr. examines the hard-wired psychological factors that make humans predisposed to supernatural belief. There is a growing body of experimental evidence that shows that children are hard wired to have an attachment system to adult caretakers, to perceive mind/body dualism, to sense agency in natural events, etc. All of which lend themselves to belief in a superhuman caretaker, separate from physical reality, who makes things happen fo...more
This fascinating book studies the exact reasons why religion is alive and well in our society today by referring to both historical and chemical facts. Religion developed as a way for humans to comfort and excite themselves by unconsciously increasing the amount of chemicals their brains produced, like dopamine. For example, dancing was a part of the earliest religions and still survives today because it still provides the same effect. Thomson calls this immediate gratification the "fast-food" e...more
A real quick and easy read (I like quick and easy) that summarizes the latest theories on how the mind is prone toward religious belief. This is primarily a psychological account, but it touches upon anthropological and evolutionary causes as well, and has an interesting section on the role of various neurotransmitters.
This is written for an investigative audience interested in religion as a natural phenomenon (See Daniel Dennett's excellent Breaking the Spell). It's concise, gets to the point,...more
This is written for an investigative audience interested in religion as a natural phenomenon (See Daniel Dennett's excellent Breaking the Spell). It's concise, gets to the point,...more
I won this book through Goodreads First Reads and I admit that I did not research it enough before I signed up to win it. In my defense, there were not many reviews at that time!
I really tried to keep an open mind as I read this book, but when statements such as - No one ever craves brussel sprouts - appear as a basis of arguement... that is a stretch to me... maybe that is because two nights ago I was craving green beans and therefore that is all I ate for dinner. I also do not get the "runner...more
I really tried to keep an open mind as I read this book, but when statements such as - No one ever craves brussel sprouts - appear as a basis of arguement... that is a stretch to me... maybe that is because two nights ago I was craving green beans and therefore that is all I ate for dinner. I also do not get the "runner...more
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very interesting book. explains different psychological adaptations we evolved over time and how religions use those adaptations. being a psych major i think i gained more pleasure as i knew a lot of things dr thomson talks about, however its written so that anyone can pick it up and understand it. theres a small glossary in the back with key terms and a 24 page 'notes' section that gives background info and further reading for each chapter.
at less than 150 pages i recommend this book for anyon...more
at less than 150 pages i recommend this book for anyon...more
I wanted to give it four stars because there are areas I wanted it to expand upon more, but this is meant to be a concise book so just skimming the surface is the point. This book definitely clarifies some of the reasons for religion from an evolutionary psychology perspective. That is what it sets out to do, and that is precisely what it does. It is exactly as advertised, the title sums up what the book is entirely about.
Concise for sure. This book is nearly pocket size containing a forward, preface, acknowledgments, 10 chapters, notes, and glossary; all in 144 pages. Having read Dennett, Harris, Dawkins, Alper, and a number of other authors interested in the science of belief/faith, did not come across any new information. This is a handy little book for brushing up or giving the time crunched individual a good overview. Can be read within a few hours.
Not a whole lot of new information here but a good starting point for those new to the debate.
Plenty of good suggestions for further reading.
Especially interesting for me were the discussions of the affect on the brain of ritualistic song and dance, and morality amongst other animals.
Plenty of good suggestions for further reading.
Especially interesting for me were the discussions of the affect on the brain of ritualistic song and dance, and morality amongst other animals.
This small book is a typical evolutionary psychology take on religion, and it's unlikely to convince anyone who doesn't already hold the author's positions. The best part was Dawkins' Foreword.
A good, quick read regarding the science behind religion. Stumbling across this fascinating book completely made my April. Not only will I read it again, I'll recommend it to friends and family. Excellent work, Andy Thomson. You are loved.
I read this book in about two hours and it was two hours of pleasure! If you'd like a point-by-point, succinct explanation of why we believe in gods, this is the book for you!
I highly recommend this book for anyone
FTC: I received a free copy of this book and was not reimbursed in any other way.
FTC: I received a free copy of this book and was not reimbursed in any other way.
It wasn't bad. I just didn't learn anything new. More a result of reading much less concise other texts.
Insightful and eye-opening. I can't recommend this book enough. J. Anderson Thomson, a psychiatrist, presents the psychological evidence for the by-product theory for the human predisposition to believe in God(s). There are good reasons to think that we are predisposed to believe in God(s), even if no God(s) exist. Religion and religious experiences are highly psychological, so it’s important to understand a bit of psychology in order to understand religion. I highly recommend this book because...more
May 06, 2012
Mary Gottschalk
marked it as to-read
I saw David Rosman's review, and it sounds very thought-provoking
A great read. While Thomson may not be entitled to some of the claims he makes, the book conveys a great deal of interesting information relating to the neuroscience and adaptive value of religion.
I am still full of questions. What existed before life forms? How did it come about from a singularity? Is time an illusion? Why am I here, and where am I going?
A lot of information packed in a small, easy to read book. Now that I have read it, I plan to use it as a study guide.
'Concise' is the key word in that title. This book is very short, basically just an extended essay. The thoughts and evidence put forth by the author are quite intriguing, but in a work so limited in length he was unable to elaborate and reinforce. If you, as the reader, don't already possess a certain working knowledge of the topic you may fail get much out of it.
On the positive side, this tease has piqued my interest into further investigation.
On the positive side, this tease has piqued my interest into further investigation.
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