What is it about religion that appeals to people? Why do religions and religious beliefs persist in the face of increasing secularization, harsh criticism, and even political persecution? In the 2nd edition of Why Gods Persist, Robert A. Hinde explores these fascinating questions.
This new edition is designed for everyone interested in the subject, either as a student of psychology and anthropology of religion or as a follower of the current controversies over the value of religious belief.
“Robert Hinde. . . is a passionate humanitarian, of mature wisdom and legendarily sharp intellect. Though no more religious than I am, he is penetratingly critical of the approach that I and others have taken, and we have to listen to him. He makes the convincing case that it is not enough to be against religion. Whether or not you call it a delusion. . . you have to understand its attractions and its motivations. Robert Hinde is superbly qualified to aid our understanding.”
- Richard Dawkins, author of The God Delusion
What is it about religion that appeals to people? Why do religions and religious beliefs persist in the face of increasing secularisation, harsh criticism and even political persecution? Robert Hinde argues that it is not enough simply to criticize religion, we must understand it - not only how it...
Published September 28th 2009 by Routledge
How should we think about religion, science, and their relationship in modern society? Some religious groups oppose evolution; some atheists claim science is on their side. Others reconcile their beliefs with science, or consider science and faith to deal with fundamentally different aspects of...
Published September 3rd 2009 by Routledge
Can religion survive Darwinism? Do scientists entering the lab or heading for the field have to bracket, or reject outright, all religious commitments and convictions? Trenchantly laying out the evidence for natural selection and carefully following and underscoring the themes and theses of Genesis...
Published February 25th 2010 by Routledge
Written by an experienced teacher, this basic introduction to the anthropology of religion explores key contemporary issues such as: definitions, theories, beliefs, symbols and language, and behaviour. The second part of the book analyzes religion in the modern world, violence, fundamentalism and...
Published July 15th 2007 by Routledge
Series: Critical Concepts in Religious Studies
Integral to human nature is the need to seek understanding of the world in which we live, to discover how it works and why. We find our answers to these fundamental questions through different methods; empirical science justifies our observations of the natural world, but religion offers...
Published October 5th 2010 by Routledge
