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Author: Agustin Fuentes Publisher: Yale University Press ISBN: 030024925X Category : Science Languages : en Pages : 281
Book Description
A wide-ranging argument by a renowned anthropologist that the capacity to believe is what makes us human Why are so many humans religious? Why do we daydream, imagine, and hope? Philosophers, theologians, social scientists, and historians have offered explanations for centuries, but their accounts often ignore or even avoid human evolution. Evolutionary scientists answer with proposals for why ritual, religion, and faith make sense as adaptations to past challenges or as by-products of our hyper-complex cognitive capacities. But what if the focus on religion is too narrow? Renowned anthropologist Agustín Fuentes argues that the capacity to be religious is actually a small part of a larger and deeper human capacity to believe. Why believe in religion, economies, love? A fascinating intervention into some of the most common misconceptions about human nature, this book employs evolutionary, neurobiological, and anthropological evidence to argue that belief—the ability to commit passionately and wholeheartedly to an idea—is central to the human way of being in the world.
Author: Agustin Fuentes Publisher: Yale University Press ISBN: 030024925X Category : Science Languages : en Pages : 281
Book Description
A wide-ranging argument by a renowned anthropologist that the capacity to believe is what makes us human Why are so many humans religious? Why do we daydream, imagine, and hope? Philosophers, theologians, social scientists, and historians have offered explanations for centuries, but their accounts often ignore or even avoid human evolution. Evolutionary scientists answer with proposals for why ritual, religion, and faith make sense as adaptations to past challenges or as by-products of our hyper-complex cognitive capacities. But what if the focus on religion is too narrow? Renowned anthropologist Agustín Fuentes argues that the capacity to be religious is actually a small part of a larger and deeper human capacity to believe. Why believe in religion, economies, love? A fascinating intervention into some of the most common misconceptions about human nature, this book employs evolutionary, neurobiological, and anthropological evidence to argue that belief—the ability to commit passionately and wholeheartedly to an idea—is central to the human way of being in the world.
Author: J. Anderson Thomson Publisher: Pitchstone Publishing (US&CA) ISBN: 0984493239 Category : Religion Languages : en Pages : 91
Book Description
In this groundbreaking volume, J. Anderson Thomson, Jr., MD, with Clare Aukofer, offers a succinct yet comprehensive study of how and why the human mind generates religious belief. Dr. Thomson, a highly respected practicing psychiatrist with credentials in forensic psychiatry and evolutionary psychology, methodically investigates the components and causes of religious belief in the same way any scientist would investigate the movement of astronomical bodies or the evolution of life over time—that is, as a purely natural phenomenon. Providing compelling evidence from psychology, the cognitive neurosciences, and related fields, he, with Ms. Aukofer, presents an easily accessible and exceptionally convincing case that god(s) were created by man—not vice versa. With this slim volume, Dr. Thomson establishes himself as a must-read thinker and leading voice on the primacy of reason and science over superstition and religion.
Author: Andrew Newberg Publisher: Free Press ISBN: 9780743274975 Category : Science Languages : en Pages : 336
Book Description
Draws on neurobiological and societal research to present a scientific analysis of how the brain perceives and transforms reality into a wide range of personal, moral, creative, and spiritual beliefs.
Author: Michael Shermer Publisher: Macmillan ISBN: 071674161X Category : Religion Languages : en Pages : 370
Book Description
Recent polls report that 96% of Americans believe in God. Why is this? Why, despite the rise of science, technology, and secular education, are people turning to religion in greater numbers than ever before? Why do people believe in God at all?
Author: Wm. Paul Young Publisher: Simon and Schuster ISBN: 1501101412 Category : Religion Languages : en Pages : 163
Book Description
From the author of the bestselling novel The Shack and the New York Times bestsellers Cross Roads and Eve comes a compelling, conversational exploration of twenty-eight assumptions about God—assumptions that just might be keeping us from experiencing His unconditional, all-encompassing love. In his wildly popular novels, Wm. Paul Young portrayed the Triune God in ways that challenged our thinking—sometimes upending long-held beliefs, but always centered in the eternal, all-encompassing nature of God’s love. Now, in Wm. Paul Young’s first nonfiction book, he invites us to revisit our assumptions about God—this time using the Bible, theological discussion, and personal anecdotes. Paul encourages us to think through beliefs we’ve presumed to be true and consider whether some might actually be false. Expounding on the compassion fans felt from the “Papa” portrayed in The Shack—now a major film starring Sam Worthington and Octavia Spencer—Paul encourages you to think anew about important issues including sin, religion, hell, politics, identity, creation, human rights, and helping us discover God’s deep and abiding love.
Author: George Byron Koch Publisher: Byronarts ISBN: 9780977722631 Category : Religion Languages : en Pages : 376
Book Description
An insightful, accessible, plain-spoken (and a little bit feisty) look at the Christian faith from its Jewish roots to its future hope beyond denominational struggles and doctrinal war. For individuals, small groups and congregations seeking deeper knowledge of the faith and greater maturity in Christ. Includes an exhaustive Glossary Plus of Christian and Jewish terms, an extensive Bibliography, a detailed Index, and a little Humor in the back. The Christian faith the basics and much more. In this sweeping and careful account of the essentials and non-essentials of the faith, Dr. George Koch lays out the foundation of what Christians believe, why they believe it, and how the Bible calls them to live with each other and the world. This begins with understanding being saved, through learning to live and love like Jesus (it s hard!), and the content of eternal life with Him. The profound Jewish roots of the faith are revealed and explained, along with the deep meaning of the Hebrew and Greek behind the words of the Old and New Testaments. The true purpose of prayer is explored in some surprising ways, across denominations and history. Then the nature of God s love is looked at with its ability to burst open prisons of the heart and mind. And obedience: What does God expect from us, and how can we fulfill it? Next is covenant the very way of God with Abraham, Moses, Jesus and us like a marriage: intimate, caring, protected. Then on through issues of the Holy Spirit, peace, mercy, heresy (it s probably not what you think!), the Trinity, and Bible authority. Koch then examines how competing religious concepts arose in the Church, and how these are often used against the explicit commands of Jesus to drive apart believers. He sets forth several specific and biblical steps that opposing Christian groups and individuals can take to begin to embody the unity that Jesus desired of His followers to find true reconciliation with God and with each other. The journey of this book is a challenging one, but can help Christians learn to refocus on the love of God, neighbor and enemy that Jesus taught, rather than differences over concepts about God and the Church. The true purpose of the Christian life is not merely to know more about God, but to know God more. About the author: The Reverend Doctor George Byron Koch (pronounced coke) is Pastor and teacher at Resurrection Anglican Church in West Chicago, Illinois (USA), though this book is intentionally neither Anglican nor denominational in content. He is also a former Senior Vice President of Oracle Corporation, author of a best-selling book on database design (Oracle: The Complete Reference), another book on Christian discipleship and small groups (The Country Parson s Advice to His Parishioners, brought into modern English from an anonymous 1680 text), and numerous articles in magazines and newspapers, ranging from The Wall Street Journal to Christianity Today. His first degree is in Physics, and science is an ongoing a field of interest for him. His doctoral studies focused on healing and reconciliation, and he continues to teach on these subjects.
Author: R. C. Sproul Publisher: Baker Books ISBN: 9780801018473 Category : Religion Languages : en Pages : 0
Book Description
What do Christians believe about God the Father, Jesus Christ, the church, salvation, eternal life, and more? This contemporary classic from theologian R. C. Sproul provides a matchless introduction to the basics of the Christian faith.
Author: Michael Shermer Publisher: Macmillan + ORM ISBN: 1429996749 Category : Science Languages : en Pages : 543
Book Description
A new edition covering the latest scientific research on how the brain makes us believers or skeptics Recent polls report that 96 percent of Americans believe in God, and 73 percent believe that angels regularly visit Earth. Why is this? Why, despite the rise of science, technology, and secular education, are people turning to religion in greater numbers than ever before? Why do people believe in God at all? These provocative questions lie at the heart of How We Believe , an illuminating study of God, faith, and religion. Bestselling author Michael Shermer offers fresh and often startling insights into age-old questions, including how and why humans put their faith in a higher power, even in the face of scientific skepticism. Shermer has updated the book to explore the latest research and theories of psychiatrists, neuroscientists, epidemiologists, and philosophers, as well as the role of faith in our increasingly diverse modern world. Whether believers or nonbelievers, we are all driven by the need to understand the universe and our place in it. How We Believe is a brilliant scientific tour of this ancient and mysterious desire.
Author: John Brockman Publisher: Harper Collins ISBN: 0061828106 Category : Psychology Languages : en Pages : 324
Book Description
More than one hundred of the world's leading thinkers write about things they believe in, despite the absence of concrete proof Scientific theory, more often than not, is born of bold assumption, disparate bits of unconnected evidence, and educated leaps of faith. Some of the most potent beliefs among brilliant minds are based on supposition alone -- yet that is enough to push those minds toward making the theory viable. Eminent cultural impresario, editor, and publisher of Edge (www.edge.org), John Brockman asked a group of leading scientists and thinkers to answer the question: What do you believe to be true even though you cannot prove it? This book brings together the very best answers from the most distinguished contributors. Thought-provoking and hugely compelling, this collection of bite-size thought-experiments is a fascinating insight into the instinctive beliefs of some of the most brilliant minds today.
Author: Agustin Fuentes
Author: Agustin Fuentes
Author: J. Anderson Thomson
Author: Andrew Newberg
Author: Michael Shermer
Author: Wm. Paul Young
Author: Andrew Rappaport
Author: George Byron Koch
Author: R. C. Sproul
Author: Michael Shermer
Author: John Brockman