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By Root 403 0

“This is an important book, which is at the same time a great read. Michael Shermer digs into the American religious psyche with devastating logic and intensity … . Too often politeness (or cowardice) prevents people from asking questions or from expressing dissent. No such barriers stand in the way of Shermer’s acute intellect, the more powerful since he so obviously cares about the issues on which he writes. I love his discussions of God and morality and when I disagree, I simply want to argue the more.”

—Michael Ruse, author of Taking Darwin Seriously and professor of philosophy and zoology, University of Guelph

“Those who approach this intriguing and informative book with a receptive mind will come away with a much deeper appreciation for the wonderful interplay of biology and culture that makes us who we are—perhaps unique creatures in the universe.”

—Donald Johanson, director of the Institute of Human Origins and author of From Lucy to Language

“The book will convince and delight all who are not chronically averse to opening their minds and thinking for themselves.”

—Richard Dawkins, author of Unweaving the Rainbow

To Stephen Jay Gould

For examining God, religion, and myth as Spinoza would have it: not to ridicule, not to bewail, not to scorn, but to understand.

Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gets understanding, for the gain from it is better than gain from silver and its profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called happy.

—Proverbs 3:13-18

Table of Contents

Epigraph

Title Page

Epigraph

PREFACE - The God Question

INTRODUCTION TO THE PAPERBACK EDITION - The Gradual Illumination of the Mind

Part I - GOD AND BELIEF

Chapter 1 - DO YOU BELIEVE IN GOD?

A LEAP OF FAITH

A BREACH IN THE FAITH

THE ART OF THE INSOLUBLE

WHAT IS GOD?

THE FAITH OF THE FLATLANDERS

Chapter 2 - IS GOD DEAD?

GOD IN THE 1960s

TIME AND GOD

GOD’S RESURRECTION

SUPPLY-SIDE RELIGION AND THE SECULARIZATION OF THE WORLD

SOCIAL INDICATORS OF GOD

SACRED SCIENCE

Chapter 3 - THE BELIEF ENGINE

THE PATTERN-SEEKING ANIMAL

THE MEDIEVAL BELIEF ENGINE

THE MODERN BELIEF ENGINE

TALKING TWADDLE WITH THE DEAD

Chapter 4 - WHY PEOPLE BELIEVE IN GOD

SEEING THE PATTERN OF GOD

IS BELIEF IN GOD GENETICALLY PROGRAMMED?

IS THERE A GOD MODULE IN THE BRAIN?

GOD AS MEME

SCIENTISTS’ BELIEF IN GOD

WHY PEOPLE BELIEVE IN GOD

INTELLECTUAL AND EMOTIONAL REASONS TO BELIEVE

ALL’S RIGHT WITH GOD IN HIS HEAVEN

Chapter 5 - O YE OF LITTLE FAITH

PHILOSOPHICAL ARGUMENTS FOR GOD

SCIENTIFIC ARGUMENTS FOR GOD

THE NEW COSMOLOGY

THE NEW CREATIONISM

THE BIBLE CODE

THE REAL MEANING OF ARGUMENTS FOR GOD

Part II - RELIGION AND SCIENCE

Chapter 6 - IN A MIRROR DIMLY, THEN FACE TO FACE

A THREE-TIERED MODEL OF RELIGION AND SCIENCE

MORAL COURAGE AND NOBILITY OF SPIRIT

Chapter 7 - THE STORYTELLING ANIMAL

THE HOW AND THE WHY: IN SEARCH OF DEEPER ANSWERS

FROM PATTERN-SEEKING TO STORYTELLING

FROM STORYTELLING TO MYTHMAKING

FROM MYTHMAKING TO MORALITY

FROM MORALITY TO RELIGION

FROM RELIGION TO GOD

Chapter 8 - GOD AND THE GHOST DANCE

THE GHOST DANCE AS MYTHMAKING

THE 1890 GHOST DANCE

THE ETERNAL, RETURN OF THE GHOST DANCE

THE CARGO CULT GHOST DANCE

JESUS AS MESSIAH MYTH

WHY THE MESSIAH MYTH RETURNS

Chapter 9 - THE FIRE THAT WILL CLEANSE

WHAT IS THE MILLENNIUM?

WHEN PROPHECY FAILS—A.D. 1000

WHEN PROPHECY FAILS—A.D. 2000

THE LURE OF THE MILLENNIUM

HEAVEN ON EARTH

SECULAR HEAVENS

HOLDING THE CENTER

Chapter 10 - GLORIOUS CONTINGENCY

IF THE TAPE WERE PLAYED TWICE

THE MISMEASURE OF CONTINGENCY

CONTINGENT-NECESSITY

GLORIOUS CONTINGENCY: A LITTLE TWIG CALLED HOMO SAPIENS

THE FULL IMPACT OF CONTINGENCY

CONTINGENCY AND FREEDOM

IT’S