false http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1159814094m/2067.jpg 2067 8 <B>An innovative thinker tackles the controversial question of why we believe in God and how religion shapes our lives and our future</B> <BR><BR> For a growing number of people, there is nothing more important than religion. It is an integral part of their marriage, child rearing, and community. In this daring new book, distinguished philosopher Daniel C. Dennett takes a hard look at this phenomenon and asks why. Where does our devotion to God come from and what purpose does it serve? Is religion a blind evolutionary compulsion or a rational choice? In <I>Breaking the Spell</I>, Dennett argues that the time has come to shed the light of science on the fundamental questions of faith. <P> In a spirited narrative that ranges widely through history, philosophy, and psychology, Dennett explores how organized religion evolved from folk beliefs and why it is such a potent force today. Deftly and lucidly, he contends that the "belief in belief" has fogged any attempt to rationally consider the existence of God and the relationship between divinity and human need. <P> <I>Breaking the Spell</I> is not an antireligious screed but rather an eyeopening exploration of the role that belief plays in our lives, our interactions, and our country. With the gulf between rationalists and adherents of "intelligent design" widening daily, Dennett has written a timely and provocative book that will be read and passionately debated by believers and nonbelievers alike. 598404 2006 Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon total:680|5:165|4:278|3:167|2:51|1:19| 680 2559 1388 103 5 5 false false Fri Feb 15 19:15:55 -0800 2008 Fri Feb 15 21:00:00 -0800 2008 more...]]> 4 9 false false Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Sat Oct 06 17:56:41 -0700 2007 Sat Oct 06 18:01:43 -0700 2007 more...]]> 4 4 false false Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007 Sun Nov 04 15:04:22 -0800 2007 Sun Nov 04 15:08:34 -0800 2007 Consciousness Explained was that consciousness is a phenomenon that emerges from the harmonious orchestration of many smaller, dumber subsystems in the brain. Among the good ideas in Breaking the Spell is the claim that one of thes...more...]]> 2 3 false false Thu Dec 06 08:49:24 -0800 2007 Thu Dec 06 12:57:57 -0800 2007 The End of Faith and God is Not Great, but this book suffers from lack of conviction. Where The End of Faith is the absolute model of conviction, and God is Not Great lays out convincing arguments (but takes some of their momentum...more...]]> 5 1 false false Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2006 Sun Apr 08 07:04:43 -0700 2007 Sun Apr 08 07:08:21 -0700 2007 more...]]> 5 2 false false Thu Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Thu Dec 25 20:43:29 -0800 2008 Thu Jan 08 12:00:30 -0800 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Mon Oct 19 15:35:11 -0700 2009 Mon Oct 19 15:49:16 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 1 false false Fri Jul 17 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Tue Jul 21 07:42:49 -0700 2009 Tue Jul 21 07:58:24 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 1 false false Sun Jun 15 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Fri Apr 24 10:05:16 -0700 2009 Fri Apr 24 11:55:45 -0700 2009 more...]]> 2 0 false false Tue Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Tue Jun 23 13:39:37 -0700 2009 Tue Jun 30 06:31:58 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Tue Apr 21 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Mon Apr 20 21:50:52 -0700 2009 Mon Apr 27 21:20:16 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Thu Jan 15 21:08:41 -0800 2009 Thu Jan 15 21:14:42 -0800 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007 Wed Oct 14 08:44:01 -0700 2009 Thu Oct 15 08:53:36 -0700 2009
Dennett's tone isn't mean, as some people say his more widely read counterpart, Richard Dawkins, is. Dennett actually shows a little compassion for believers, reminding the reader that much of the time the bel...more...]]> 5 0 false false Mon May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Thu May 14 12:56:02 -0700 2009 Mon May 25 19:40:38 -0700 2009 more...]]> 1 2 false false Sat Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2006 Thu Apr 12 10:43:00 -0700 2007 Thu Apr 12 10:44:02 -0700 2007 4 0 false false Mon Jan 12 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Sat Dec 20 21:34:36 -0800 2008 Mon Jan 12 08:11:09 -0800 2009 1 Daniel C. Dennett is a professor of philosophy so, as might be expected, he doesn't offer many answers in this book. He does however present more than a few questions and interesting ideas. Many of which I feel should be given more than just a casual glance.
The book is divided into three par...more...]]> 5 0 false false Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Sat Jan 31 12:21:19 -0800 2009 Sat Jan 31 12:27:30 -0800 2009 more...]]> 0 0 false false Thu Feb 05 09:45:31 -0800 2009 Thu Feb 05 09:45:31 -0800 2009 The debate about Daniel C. Dennett's new book has been lively from the get-go. Dennett has already had cause to respond to the New York Times regarding Leon Wielseltier's reduction of his book to "a merry anthology of contemporary superstitions." Wielseltier's charge of scientism ("th...

more...]]> 2 1 false false Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Sun Aug 19 19:29:25 -0700 2007 Thu May 01 11:51:05 -0700 2008 2 0 false false Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sun Oct 04 20:01:06 -0700 2009 Sun Oct 04 20:15:14 -0700 2009 more...]]> http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=2067