Why Gods Persist: A Scientific Approach to Religion [Paperback]

Robert A. Hinde (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 17, 1999

This work takes a serious look at social scientific explanations for the persistence of religion. Psychologist, Robert Hinde, offers a major study from the perspective of both the social and the biological sciences on the role of religion in human society. He explores why religions have played such a major role in the lives of individuals and in the integration of societies, and probes why it is that if most basic religious beliefs are clearly incompatible with modern scientific knowledge, the majority of people in western countries still see themselves as believers. He demonstrates that answers to these sorts of questions are the ultimate challenge to Darwinism. The text seeks to tackle a complex problem in a straightforward way which students should find understandable. Hinde provides chapter summaries, multiple sections within each chapter, and draws from examples from a wide range of religions. The text offers a holistic approach to understanding the persistence of religion, our relationship and behaviour to religion, and evolutionary theory.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Hinde's book is commendable for its bringing together a vast amount of psychological and sociological accounts of religious life.
–Contemporary Psychology APA Review of Books

[T]his book has much to commend it to the thoughtful reader.....
–Podium

Hinde's book is an informed, scholarly, and insightful analysis of the emergence of various religions in different contexts. ...valuable to those who are interested in religion as a social/cultural phenomenon.
–Choice

About the Author

Robert A. Hinde is a Professor Emeritus and former Master of St. John’s College, Cambridge. He is also the British chairman of the Pugwash Group. His work in zoology, psychology and anthropology has been widely recognised; amongst his many distinctions he is a Fellow of the Royal Society, an honorary Fellow of the British Academy, Foreign Hon. Member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and Hon. Foreign Associate of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Routledge (July 17, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415208262
• ISBN-13: 978-0415208260
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,351,959 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Hard to follow, November 16, 2011

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bow_bender (Wa State Archer) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Why Gods Persist: A Scientific Approach to Religion (Hardcover)

I purchased this book in paperback because I'm extremely interested in the subject matter. I hate to be the only person who reviews it, and then pan it but I have to be honest. I got through about 20 pages and found it completely incomprehensible. Now I don't view myself as a simpleton but I found his vocabulary to be extensive and verbose and he used it all. The author uses 3 and 4 level compound sentences as a rule. I believe he has a significant point to make but it's hard to follow. As I read through it I felt like I had to break each paragraph down and rewrite it so I could completely understand the point. It was a very frustrating experience.

It is likely a great source of information but certainly not a comfortable enjoyable book.