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The Faith Instinct: How Religion Evolved and Why It Endures Hardcover

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Product details

Hardcover
Publisher: Penguin Press HC, The
Language: English
ASIN: B003B3NVZY
Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 1 x 9.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 86 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,613,704 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Robert Hayes

An interesting theory, compellingly presented

January 5, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

THE FAITH INSTINCT is a book which aspires to explain why religion and belief have had such a hold on humanity for so long by approaching it from an evolutionary perspective. Essentially, religion evolved as one of many strategies for survival and social cohesion. Nicholas Wade acknowledges that science hasn't quite caught up sufficiently to explain or verify a lot of what he proposes, some of which is based on minority sociobiological theories, but much of it at least sounded plausible to this layman. I certainly enjoyed learning about primitive hunter-gatherer religious practices and how they led to later developments in religious thought. My only complaint is that there was little attention paid to Eastern religions and how they fit into the religious evolutionary tree, instead rehashing the "three monotheism." Beyond that, it presented a compelling case in an interesting way. Recommended for people interested in religion and its history.

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Robert E. Thorne

An fascinating, respectful discussion of religion and its origins

December 26, 2011

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

As a physicist with a strong interest in and respect for religion, this is the best of the dozen or so books I've read on religion in the last few years. It gives a fascinating and compelling view of what religion is, how it arose, how it has evolved, and how it has benefited the groups that have adopted it. It is far more compelling - including in its scientific basis - than the books by Dawkins, Hitchens, and the like.

I've read several of the negative reviews of this book. Many misrepresent the scientific points made by Wade, and misunderstand the broader implications of his arguments for, e.g., understanding religions other than the western monotheisms or the rise of the secular state.

I found the discussion of the roots of Islam especially fascinating. I had always assumed Muhammad was a historical figure whose life and battles were well documented by the historical record outside of Islam - but this apparently is not true.

The last quarter of the book, that deals with more recent trends, is weaker than the rest. But overall, this is a fascinating book that - if you approach it with an open mind - will transform how you think about religion.

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jacob Gold

The book certainly starts on a good food representing the two options as to how religion ...

February 8, 2017

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

The book certainly starts on a good food representing the two options as to how religion relates to mankind in our psyche. Either it is ingrained in some sense or another, encoded by genetic means into our brain structures thus making humans have an inherent religiosity to them, OR... it is a cultural phenomenon. In the later case.. I need not explain the means by how this would occur. Nevertheless ... the dichotomy is well presented in this book. I was a bit... disappointed by the secon half of the book.. but think it's worth reading for the first

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Kevin Moore

Speculations tried without evidence

July 9, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Lots of smoke, no fire. Speculations around essential questions raised, but an admitted "no proof" or evidence of this or that assumption. The book leaves us right were we began: wondering where the God metaphor came from and so forth. It's use we know--very useful--but do we need an evolutionary description that this is so when a trip to the Vatican will show you just how useful region is?.

An empty book with a lot a talk around d relevant issues: e.g., did religion preceded language?

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L. barthel

... work "Before the Dawn" I knew this would be good and it is

October 13, 2014

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

After reading his earlier work "Before the Dawn" I knew this would be good and it is. Now I am reading " How to Read the Bible" to learn more from James Kugel whom he quotes. People can recognize myth anywhere except when it is their religion. He suggests that we have a deep seated ability to form religions. It's an organizing tool for large groups and very helpful to us no matter what the origin. They are neither right nor wrong. Anything that controls our murderous impulse toward each other is a good thing.

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Elizabeth M. Shoemaker

I have lent this book to multiple people and recommended it to many more

January 5, 2015

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This has really influenced my view on religion in a positive way, allowing me to be both objective and compassionate to religious people, instead of constantly angry or bitter. I have lent this book to multiple people and recommended it to many more.

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Lotus

The title says it all.

August 25, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

The book is a non bias account of how and why religion evolved and was successful. The only thing was it was a little repetitive at times. But interesting and good explanations. Also the author gave evidence and historical accounts of different peoples.

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John P. Lorand

Nicholas Wade does it again

November 26, 2010

Format: MP3 CDVerified Purchase

I particularly enjoy books that paint with a broad brush. Wade's previous book, "Before the Dawn", presents much of what has been discovered about how Homo Sapiens spread around the globe, evidently starting about 50,000 years ago in the horn of Africa. "The Faith Instinct" discusses, with great care and excellent logic, recent thinking about how religion may have begun (with totally egalitarian hunter-gatherer groups some hundreds of thousands of years ago), what purpose it served (creating cohesion within groups, the better to prevail against attacks by neighboring groups), its practices (dance, music, and appeal to gods), and how it changed with agriculture and the rise of cities (no longer egalitarian, but with social stratification and religious leaders). The conclusions Wade discusses are based upon observation of a few hunter-gatherer groups in the 19th and 20th centuries, by anthropologists who lived with the groups and learned their languages. A major insight that struck me is the paradox that hunter-gatherer groups love the members of their own tribe, while hating those of other tribes. This shines light on modern xenophobia, and helps explain the ability of modern humans to act sometimes beneficently, and at others, malevolently. Thus, we continue to seek revenge, and to set up cycles of violence. Wade's account is enlightening (as noted), provocative, and exceptionally readable.

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