In the name of God : the evolutionary origins of religious ethics and violence /
Religion is one of the most powerful forces running through human history, and although often presented as a force for good, its impact is frequently violent and divisive. This provocative work brings together cutting-edge research from both evolutionary and cognitive psychology to help readers unde...
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| Format: | eBook |
| Language: | English |
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Malden, MA :
Wiley-Blackwell,
2010.
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| Series: | Blackwell public philosophy.
Wiley online library. |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Connect to the full text of this electronic book |
| Summary: | Religion is one of the most powerful forces running through human history, and although often presented as a force for good, its impact is frequently violent and divisive. This provocative work brings together cutting-edge research from both evolutionary and cognitive psychology to help readers understand the psychological structure of religious morality and the origins of religious violence. <ul> <li>Introduces a fundamentally new approach to the analysis of religion in a style accessible to the general reader <li>Applies insights from evolutionary and cognitive psychology to both Judaism and Christianity, and their texts, to help understand the origins of religious violence <li>Argues that religious violence is grounded in the moral psychology of religion <li>Illustrates its controversial argument with reference to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and the response to the attacks from both the terrorists and the President. Suggests strategies for beginning to counter the divisive aspects of religion. <li>Discusses the role of religion and religious criticism in the contemporary world. Argues for a position sceptical of the moral authority of religion, while also critiquing the excesses of the 8220;new atheists8221; for failing to appreciate the moral contributions of religion. |
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| Item Description: | Electronic resource. |
| Physical Description: | 1 online resource (x, 272 pages) |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| ISBN: | 1444320696 6612483350 9781444320695 9786612483356 |
| DOI: | 10.1002/9781444320695 |