Conceiving God

Name: Conceiving God
Brand: Thames and Hudson Ltd
Price: 38.75 AUD
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The Cognitive Origin and Evolution of Religion

By: David Lewis-Williams

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Hardcover | 1 March 2010 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

Hardcover
320 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
24.2 x 16.2 x 3.4

Hardcover

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Recent years have seen a growing tension between religion and science as more and more people have asked themselves a fundamental question: is there a supernatural realm that intervenes in daily life? To many it certainly feels so - but what if the religious impulse has another, rational, explanation?

Building on the insights and discoveries of his two earlier books, The Mind in the Cave and Inside the Neolithic Mind, cognitive archaeologist David Lewis-Williams explores how science developed within the cocoon of religion and then shows how the natural functioning of the human brain creates experiences that can lead to belief in the supernatural realm. Such belief gives rise to creeds, a development examined here in the light of critical episodes in world history, from rivalries between Platonists and Aristotelians to the discoveries of Charles Darwin.

Archaeology reveals activities one can label religious many tens of thousands of years ago and the author shows that mental imagery can be detected in widely separated religious communities such as Hildegard of Bingen's in medieval Europe or the San hunters of southern Africa.

At once polemical, insightful and thought-provoking, Conceiving God is essential reading for all those interested in these questions about the origins of religious thought, and the respective roles of science and religion in contemporary society.

Industry Reviews

'An insightful, provocative and extremely thought-provoking contribution to the great debate' - Good Book Guide
'I doubt Lewis-Williams will have the last word in this debate. But in many ways, he should' - Scotland on Sunday
'A well-informed and steady march through the history of religion and its conflict with science ... rich and educative' - A.C. Grayling
'A fascinating investigation into the human propensity for religion and religious belief ... no one should hesitate to engage with it, or deny themselves the opportunity to be illuminated by the wisdom in its pages' - Rabbi Dr Charles H. Middleburgh
'Wide-ranging, information-rich and thought-provoking ... historically informed and well reasoned ... open and closed minds alike will find much to ponder' - Theology
'A likeable and carefully reasoned tract' - Times Literary Supplement

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You Can Find This Book In

Non-Fiction Religion & Beliefs Religion Philosophy of Religion Religious Issues & Debates Religion & Science History of Religion Science Science in General Popular Science

Preface	p. 6
Prolegomena: Windows on the Past and Some of the Questions they Raise	p. 11
A New Way of Thinking	p. 23
From Skies to Species	p. 49
A Tale of Two Scientists	p. 87
Explaining Religion	p. 115
Religious Experience	p. 139
Religious Belief	p. 161
Religious Practice	p. 184
Stone Age Religion	p. 207
Hildegard on the African Veld	p. 232
God's Empire Strikes Back	p. 257
Epilegomena: Of Babies and Bathwater	p. 290
Notes	p. 294
Bibliography and Guide to Further Reading	p. 301
Acknowledgments	p. 315
Sources of Illustrations	p. 315
Index	p. 316
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Conceiving God

The Cognitive Origin and Evolution of Religion

At a Glance

Hardcover

Industry Reviews

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

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