12.29.05
Breaking the Spell–of Darwinism
New book by Dennett in February: Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon Sounds like more of the tiresome ‘god gene’ nonsense. The blurb below from Publisher Weekly says, Dennett explores religion as a cultural phenomenon governed by the processes of evolution and natural selection.
I am all for seeing religion in a natural context. But the hype about religion and natural selection just goes on and on, and on. Without getting into any spiritual claims whatever, it is nonetheless the case that RELIGION is not NOT due to natural selection.
Something much more complex is going on, as we can see from the Axial Age. This requires extracting the Axial Age concept from its current confusions.
See also, Evolution of Morality–At Close Range
From Publishers Weekly
In his characteristically provocative fashion, Dennett, author of Darwin’s Dangerous Idea and director of the Center for Cognitive Studies at Tufts University, calls for a scientific, rational examination of religion that will lead us to understand what purpose religion serves in our culture. Much like E.O. Wilson (In Search of Nature), Robert Wright (The Moral Animal), and Richard Dawkins (The Selfish Gene), Dennett explores religion as a cultural phenomenon governed by the processes of evolution and natural selection. Religion survives because it has some kind of beneficial role in human life, yet Dennett argues that it has also played a maleficent role. He elegantly pleads for religions to engage in empirical self-examination to protect future generations from the ignorance so often fostered by religion hiding behind doctrinal smoke screens. Because Dennett offers a tentative proposal for exploring religion as a natural phenomenon, his book is sometimes plagued by generalizations that leave us wanting more (”Only when we can frame a comprehensive view of the many aspects of religion can we formulate defensible policies for how to respond to religions in the future”). Although much of the ground he covers has already been well trod, he clearly throws down a gauntlet to religion.
Ben Hill said,
February 2, 2006 at 8:20 pm
I’m reading the book right now, he clearly states that he’s not look for a “god gene”. Just wanted to let you know that concern is unfounded. Good day.