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Religion is Not about God: How Spiritual Traditions Nurture our Biological Nature and What to Expect When They Fail Paperback – July 24, 2006

by Loyal Rue (Author)

9 customer reviews

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Thousands of religious traditions have appeared over the course of human history but only a relative few have survived. Some speak of a myriad of gods, others of only one, and some recognize no gods at all. Volumes have been written attempting to prove the existence or nonexistence of supernatural being(s). So, if religion is not about God, then what is it about?

In this provocative book, Loyal Rue contends that religion, very basically, is about us. Successful religions are narrative (myth) traditions that influence human nature so that we might think, feel, and act in ways that are good for us, both individually and collectively. Through the use of images, symbols, and rituals, religion promotes reproductive fitness and survival through the facilitation of harmonious social relations. Drawing on examples from the major traditions—Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism—Rue shows how each religion, in its own way, has guided human behavior to advance the twin goals of personal fulfillment and social coherence.

As all faiths are increasingly faced with a crisis of intellectual plausibility and moral relevance, this book presents a compelling and positive view of the centrality and meaning of religion.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

Loyal Rue has written a bold, scholarly, and gracefully composed discussion of the complex realtions between the concepts of God and religion. I learned a great deal from the rich tapestry of facts that filled the gaps in my understanding of the history of these ideas and believe that readers will enjoy a similar intellectual experience.

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Thousands of religious traditions have appeared over the course of human history but only a relative few have survived. Some speak of a myriad of gods, others of only one, and some recognize no gods at all. Volumes have been written attempting to prove the existence or nonexistence of supernatural being(s). So, if religion is not about God, then what is it about? In this provocative book, Loyal Rue contends that religion, very basically, is about us. Successful religions are narrative (myth) traditions that influence human nature so that we might think, feel, and act in ways that are good for us, both individually and collectively. Through the use of images, symbols, and rituals, religion promotes reproductive fitness and survival through the facilitation of harmonious social relations. Drawing on examples from the major traditionsJudaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and BuddhismRue shows how each religion, in its own way, has guided human behavior to advance the twin goals of personal fulfillment and social coherence. As all faiths are increasingly faced with a crisis of intellectual plausibility and moral relevance, this book presents a compelling and positive view of the centrality and meaning of religion.Loyal Rue, two-time Templeton Award winner, is a professor of philosophy and religion at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.

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Product details

Paperback: 408 pages
Publisher: Rutgers University Press (July 24, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780813539553
ISBN-13: 978-0813539553
ASIN: 0813539552
Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 0.8 x 9.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 9 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #542,116 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #348 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Religious Studies > Psychology
- #956 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Religious Studies > Science & Religion
- #1049 in Books > Reference > Encyclopedias & Subject Guides > Religion

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A thought provoking view of the place of religion in society

September 20, 2014

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This is a book that requires some thought as you read it. It is not a polemic against your particular religion but more of an analysis of the place that religion plays in human culture. I don’t always agree with what the author has to say here but his insights are useful and thought provoking.
Rue starts his analysis by looking at human nature at almost an “intro to biology” level to build the case for how humans are influenced and where the emotive effects of religion are manifest. He then follows with a review of several major religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and finally Buddhism. Honestly I found the first 3 interesting but was less interested the latter two. Being more familiar with the religions allows the reader to see the point Rue is making. One can see elements that allow the tie in with society and human influence.
The third and final section of Rue’s book deals first with the crisis religion has today in a modern multi-centric world. I found this less compelling only because I can see how difficult it would be to sustain “myth-reality” not just from one challenge (i.e. science) but multiple, (nation states, commercialism, science, competing belief exposure). Rue deals with these individually, but the religious belief system anyone carries would have to deal with all at once. It is very interesting that he goes into some detail about commercialism and points up the same elements that it uses like religion to influence people. I don’t think this is tongue in cheek as one reviewer suggests, I think Rue is right on the money.
The final chapter is rightfully entitled doomsday as Rue spells out the looming ecologic disaster that we human beings are inflicting on this planet. Be warned it is truly depressing. I also found myself agreeing with the author that I am not optimistic that we will meet the threat in time to avoid catastrophic events. I am even less sanguine that post event, we will rise to the occasion.
Overall this book is an interesting read. It requires thought but it is not hard to get through. It is certain to open new ways of viewing some aspects of our culture, whether it is your religion, your society or your own myth realities.

3 people found this helpful

Comment

Douglas T. Hawes

A review of Rue

May 27, 2012

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This was the third and best book I have read written by Loyal Rue. He develops here a general theory of religion in this book. Yet you do not have to be a psychology or philosophy major to read the book. I for one am a retired agronomist or horticulturist. He approaches the subject from an evolutionary psychologist point of view, emphasising human nature. Rue claims religion is not about God it is about us. It is not about coping with insecurities, it is about group survival.

Rue's approach is to examine the following five religions(Judaism,Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism) to show how they fit his criteria. Then he adds Consumerism to this list, somewhat tongue-in-cheek I think. However, he does note that the prosperity gospel that appears to be a part of this 'religion' may be a "well-funded source of resistance" against promoting the view that sustainable goals and policies must be enacted to save civilization. He, like I and many others worry that we are using the world's resources at an unsustainable rate.

Read this book and find out what the religions of this world have in common as they serve man.

3 people found this helpful

Comment

Sort it out and learn something ; )

July 24, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Excellent book. Very informative. Enjoying it thoroughly.

Comment

A very good read!

September 22, 2014

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I've yet to finish the book but I am enjoying it thoroughly! Very thoughtful author.

One person found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

June 16, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Excellent

Comment

The Simms Family

May 4, 2015

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Exactly as promised! Thank you.

Comment

Michael Cavanaugh

A Naturalistic-Friendly theory of Religion

March 15, 2005

Format: Hardcover

I finished this book over a month ago, and it will not leave my mind. In fact I have decided to use it as the subject of my upcoming series of Sunday School lessons, and explaining my planned presentation will be the best way to convey the book to you. First I will make a HUGE spreadsheet filling one wall of the room. At the top I will put the title and Rue's opening question about whether there can even be such a thing as a "theory of religion" (in his persuasive opinion there can, largely because we humans are similar enough for many commonalities to find their way into our religions even despite the profound diversity our various cultures produce).

Then I will make 8 columns.

In the left column I will list the various characteristics of all Religions which Rue discusses (I won't list them all here because some explanation and subdivision is required for each, but to give a flavor of this column I will say here that Rue discusses 1) the education of the emotions; 2) the various strategies used by religion - intellectual, experiential, ritualistic, and aesthetic, both at the individual and institutional levels; and 3) two overriding religious functions, namely increasing personal wholeness and enhancing social cohesiveness.

The next 5 columns (2-6) will be for the classical traditions which Rue discusses (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism). In each case I will fill in how each tradition fulfills the theory as presented in Column One.

The next column (#7) will be for Consumerism as a Religion, and the last column (#8) will be for Religious Naturalism. Note that Rue is ambivalent about whether Consumerism actually qualifies as a Religion, but I found it a fascinating example to use in testing the rest of his theory, and I think it will make an awesome discussion for my class (made up of a nice cross-section of Americans, one Hindu, and one other person who grew up abroad).

Each week we will discuss a new column, showing how Rue's theory of religion plays out in a specific cultural and historical context. Although I am officially allotted 4 weeks (which would not be enough), the class is usually very willing to extend a unit, and I anticipate that this discussion will be especially lively. Nonetheless, I will try to save some time by only mentioning and not discussing the "doomsday scenario" with which Rue introduces his treatment of Religious Naturalism. That is because I do not entirely agree with his implication that the only way Religious Naturalism will ever get a foothold is if some sort of collapse occurs. And besides, while I agree with Rue that such a scenario could play out, our class has already been down that road. For most readers I think it is important to consider Rue's ideas on this point, especially since he uses it to think through how the all-important Religious Naturalism could arise. But the reader should not, in my opinion, let that part of the book distract him or her from the overall point, which is to explore the common wellsprings of all religions.

It is a book everyone interested in religion should read. In fact I think it is perhaps the only modern full-blown "theory of religion" which adequately accounts for what science has taught us about evolution, about the biological roots of our human nature, the psychology that grows out of those roots, and about the ways cultures intersect with that nature to produce local variants on the invariable tendency toward religious experience and practice.

33 people found this helpful

Comment

Essential reading on the naturalizing of religion

November 6, 2009

Format: Paperback

This is a fabulous book that deserves a wide readership. In a world torn by inter-religious strife and the seeming never-ending battle between faith and reason, few things are more important than helping religious and nonreligious people alike celebrate the mythic/religious impulse of humanity from a science-based, naturalistic perspective. I simply cannot recommend this book too highly. Also see his earlier masterpiece, "Everybody's Story".

6 people found this helpful

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