How We Believe: Science, Skepticism, and the Search for God
About this ebook
“[Shermer] is uniquely equipped to carry out this comprehensive analysis of the nature of belief. . . . Insightful, intriguing, and enlightening.” —American Scientist
In this scientific investigation of God and faith, bestselling author and Scientific American columnist Michael Shermer offers fresh insights into the inner workings of the mind, examining how and why humans create religious laws, turn to apocalyptic myths, and negotiate compromises between science and religion. Drawing on studies in psychiatry, neuroscience, and epidemiology, he explores such phenomena as out-of-body experiences, miraculous coincidences, and extrasensory perception.
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 provocative scientific tour of this ancient and mysterious desire.
“Ranges eloquently and learnedly over broad areas of philosophy, theology, and science [to] answer ‘the God question.’” —Scientific American
“Unusually useful.” —The Washington Post Book World
“Brilliantly explores our propensity to be story-telling animals.” —Natural History
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About the author
Michael Shermer is the author of The Believing Brain, Why People Believe Weird Things, The Science of Good and Evil, The Mind Of The Market, Why Darwin Matters, Science Friction, How We Believe and other books on the evolution of human beliefs and behavior. He is the founding publisher of Skeptic magazine, the editor of Skeptic.com, a monthly columnist for Scientific American, and an adjunct professor at Claremont Graduate University. He lives in Southern California.
