Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon

The New York Times bestseller - a "crystal-clear, constantly engaging" (Jared Diamond) exploration of the role that religious belief plays in our lives and our interactions

For all the thousands of books that have been written about religion, few until this one have attempted to examine it scientifically: to ask why--and how--it has shaped so many lives so strongly. Is religion a product of blind evolutionary instinct or rational choice? Is it truly the best way to live a moral life? Ranging through biology, history, and psychology, Daniel C. Dennett charts religion's evolution from "wild" folk belief to "domesticated" dogma. Not an antireligious screed but an unblinking look beneath the veil of orthodoxy, Breaking the Spell will be read and debated by believers and skeptics alike.

Author: Daniel C. Dennett
Publisher: Penguin Books
Published: 02/01/2007
Pages: 464
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.80lbs
Size: 8.30h x 5.40w x 0.90d
ISBN13: 9780143038337
ISBN10: 0143038338
BISAC Categories:
- Religion | Philosophy
- Religion | Religion & Science
- Science | Philosophy & Social Aspects

About the Author
Daniel C. Dennett is University Professor, professor of philosophy, and co-director of the Center for Cognitive Studies at Tufts University. His books include From Bacteria to Bach and Back, Freedom Evolves, Consciousness Explained and Darwin's Dangerous Idea, a finalist for the National Book Award.