Religion Explained: The Evolutionary Origins of Religious Thought in Atheists and Skeptics

Oct 22, 2012 Mark Gowan rated it liked it · review of another edition

Religion Explained by Pascal Boyer is a thoroughly researched and considerable book on one of the basic questions that most of us have asked: why religion? Boyer does a good job of differentiating the theories in the book from past attempts ranging from the idea that we are physically designed to worship by god to the arguments put forth by James Frazer in the ‘Golden Bough’. The basic premise of the book is simple: “having a normal brain does not imply that you have religion. All it implies is Religion Explained by Pascal Boyer is a thoroughly researched and considerable book on one of the basic questions that most of us have asked: why religion? Boyer does a good job of differentiating the theories in the book from past attempts ranging from the idea that we are physically designed to worship by god to the arguments put forth by James Frazer in the ‘Golden Bough’. The basic premise of the book is simple: “having a normal brain does not imply that you have religion. All it implies is that you can acquire it, which is very different” (4).

Boyer takes and evolutionary look at why human beings choose to be religious given that religious belief is seemingly at odds with the evolutionary drive of eating and procreating. His argument is derived from [among others] archeology, anthropology and [primarily] evolutionary psychology. His conclusion is that we have “inference systems” (17) that work on a sub-conscious level that have helped us survive through the eons by making inferences in the environment in which we live. These inferences are not derived from reason and the use of rational thought, but from the evolutionary drive to survive: those who make more inferences (correct or not) are more likely to survive.

While I think that Boyer’s argument is valid, there are a few issues in the book that found a bit off-putting. First, Boyer presents objections [in full] to his argument (which is good), but seems to write them off completely based upon evolutionary psychological grounds alone (which is not so good). The objections preface his reasoning, which makes the book somewhat disorganized at times. Secondly, there are sections which seem to repeat themselves, making a somewhat dry book more difficult to read. Lastly, I think because Boyer relies heavily upon psychology and less so on neuroscience, that some of the conclusion were hastily come to.

I would conclude by recommending Boyer’s book because I think the argument is valid and is part of an ongoing search to scientifically explain something that is so unscientific. Boyer presents his argument clearly, but not always concisely. I think that Religion Explained is a great introduction to a fascinating area of research. However, as an introduction I think the style of writing could have been more approachable.
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Sep 21, 2008 Becky rated it really liked it

An interesting view of religion, and how the human brain works
There is no real explaination of religion, just that the way our brains work makes it very likely that we will believe whatever our parents or our community believes, and that we will not be bothered too much with any contradictions in doctrine.

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