Breaking the Spell
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Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon (published 2006) is a book by the American philosopher Daniel Dennett, which attempts a scientific analysis of the origins of religion and of its pros and cons.
Dennett implies that the spell he hopes to break is not religious belief itself, but the conviction that religion is off-limits to scientific inquiry. His working definition of religions is, "social systems whose participants avow belief in a supernatural agent or agents whose approval is to be sought." He notes that this definition is "a place to start, not something carved in stone."
The book is divided into three parts. Part I discusses the motivation and justification for the entire project: Can science study religion? Should science study religion? After answering in the affirmative, Part II proceeds to use the tools of evolutionary biology to suggest possible theories of the evolution of modern religions from ancient folk beliefs. Part III analyzes religion and its effects in today's world: Does religion make us moral? Is religion what gives meaning to life? What should we teach the children? Dennett bases much of his analysis on empirical evidence, though he often points out that much more research in this field is needed.
[edit] Reviews
- George Johnson: Getting a Rational Grip on Religion, Scientific American
- Leon Wieseltier: The God Genome, The New York Times
- Adam Kirsch: If Men Are From Mars, What's God, The New York Sun
- World Socialist Website: http://www.wsws.org/articles/2006/nov2006/spel-n06.shtml
[edit] References
Dennett, Daniel C. (2006), Breaking the Spell, Viking (Penguin), ISBN 0-670-03472-X
