Teehan, John
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 understand the psychological structure of religious morality and the origins of religious violence.
- Introduces a fundamentally new approach to the analysis of religion in a style accessible to the general reader
- Applies insights from evolutionary and cognitive psychology to both Judaism and Christianity, and their texts, to help understand the origins of religious violence
- Argues that religious violence is grounded in the moral psychology of religion
- 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.
- 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 “new atheists” for failing to appreciate the moral contributions of religion.
Keywords: mind, morality, religious ethics, religion, violence, philosophy, God, Bible
- Author(s)
- Teehan, John
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
- Publication year
- 2009
- Language
- en
- Edition
- 1
- Page amount
- 264 pages
- Category
- Philosophy
- Format
- Ebook
- eISBN (ePUB)
- 9781444359138
- Printed ISBN
- 9781405183819