Breaking the Spell
Encyclopedia
Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon is a 2006
book by the American
philosopher and cognitive scientist, Daniel Dennett
, which argues for a scientific analysis of religion
in order to predict the future of this phenomenon. Dennett implies that the spell he hopes to break is not religious belief itself, but the conviction that religion is off-limits to scientific inquiry.
to suggest possible theories regarding the origin of religion
and subsequent evolution of modern religions from ancient folk beliefs
. Part III analyzes religion and its effects in today's world: Does religion make us moral
? Is religion what gives meaning to life
? What should we teach the children
? Dennett bases much of his analysis on empirical
evidence, though he often points out that much more research in this field is needed.
agent or agents whose approval is to be sought." He notes that this definition is "a place to start, not something carved in stone."
2006 in literature
The year 2006 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Literature:*Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - Half of a Yellow Sun*Chris Adrian - The Children's Hospital *Martin Amis - House of Meetings...
book by the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
philosopher and cognitive scientist, Daniel Dennett
Daniel Dennett
Daniel Clement Dennett is an American philosopher, writer and cognitive scientist whose research centers on the philosophy of mind, philosophy of science and philosophy of biology, particularly as those fields relate to evolutionary biology and cognitive science. He is currently the Co-director of...
, which argues for a scientific analysis of religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
in order to predict the future of this phenomenon. Dennett implies that the spell he hopes to break is not religious belief itself, but the conviction that religion is off-limits to scientific inquiry.
Synopsis
The book is divided into three parts. Part I discusses the motivation and justification for the entire project: Can science study religion? Should science study religion? After answering in the affirmative, Part II proceeds to use the tools of evolutionary biology and memeticsMemetics
Memetics is a theory of mental content based on an analogy with Darwinian evolution, originating from Richard Dawkins' 1976 book The Selfish Gene. It purports to be an approach to evolutionary models of cultural information transfer. A meme, analogous to a gene, is essentially a "unit of...
to suggest possible theories regarding the origin of religion
Evolutionary origin of religions
The evolutionary origin of religions theorizes about the emergence of religious behavior during the course of human evolution.- Nonhuman religious behavior :...
and subsequent evolution of modern religions from ancient folk beliefs
Folk religion
Folk religion consists of ethnic or regional religious customs under the umbrella of an organized religion, but outside of official doctrine and practices...
. Part III analyzes religion and its effects in today's world: Does religion make us moral
Morality
Morality is the differentiation among intentions, decisions, and actions between those that are good and bad . A moral code is a system of morality and a moral is any one practice or teaching within a moral code...
? Is religion what gives meaning to life
Meaning of life
The meaning of life constitutes a philosophical question concerning the purpose and significance of life or existence in general. This concept can be expressed through a variety of related questions, such as "Why are we here?", "What is life all about?", and "What is the meaning of it all?" It has...
? What should we teach the children
Religion and children
Children usually acquire the religious views of their parents, though they may also be influenced by others they communicate with such as peers and teachers...
? Dennett bases much of his analysis on empirical
Empirical
The word empirical denotes information gained by means of observation or experimentation. Empirical data are data produced by an experiment or observation....
evidence, though he often points out that much more research in this field is needed.
Definition
Dennett's working definition of religions is, "social systems whose participants avow belief in a supernaturalSupernatural
The supernatural or is that which is not subject to the laws of nature, or more figuratively, that which is said to exist above and beyond nature...
agent or agents whose approval is to be sought." He notes that this definition is "a place to start, not something carved in stone."
Structure
- Part I: Opening Pandora's Box
- 1. Breaking which spell?
- 2. Some questions about science
- 3. Why good things happen
- Part II: The Evolution of Religion
- 4. The roots of religion
- 5. Religion, the early days
- 6. The evolution of stewardship
- 7. The invention of team spirit
- 8. Belief in belief
- Part III: Religion Today
- 9. Toward a buyer's guide to religions
- 10. Morality and religion
- 11. Now what do we do?
- Appendix A: The new replicators
- Appendix B: Some more questions about science
- Appendix C: The bellboy and the lady named Tuck
- Appendix D: Kim Philby as a real case of indeterminacy of radical interpretation
Translations
Breaking the Spell has been translated into several other languages, including- German - translation by Frank Born as Den Bann brechen. Religion als natürliches Phänomen, Frankfurt a. M.: Verlag der Weltreligionen im Insel Verlag 2008. ISBN 9783458710110
- Greek - translation by Dimitris Xygalatas and Nikolas Roubekas as Απομυθοποίηση, Thessaloniki: Vanias 2007. ISBN 9789602881989
- Italian - translation by S. Levi as Rompere l'incantesimo. La religione come fenomeno naturale, Milano: Cortina Raffaello 2007. ISBN 9788860300973
- Polish - translation by Barbara Stanosz as Odczarowanie. Religia jako zjawisko naturalne, Warsaw: Państwowy Instytut Wydawniczy 2008. ISBN 9788306031386
- Portuguese - translation by Helena Londres as Quebrando O Encanto. A Religião Como Fenômeno Natural, Rio de Janeiro: Globo 2006. ISBN 9788525042880
- Spanish - translation by Felipe de Brigard as Romper el hechizo: la religión como un fenómeno natural, Madrid: Katz 2007. ISBN 9788496859005
See also
- Religious studiesReligious studiesReligious studies is the academic field of multi-disciplinary, secular study of religious beliefs, behaviors, and institutions. It describes, compares, interprets, and explains religion, emphasizing systematic, historically based, and cross-cultural perspectives.While theology attempts to...
- Evolutionary psychology of religionEvolutionary psychology of religionThe evolutionary psychology of religion is the study of religious belief using evolutionary psychology principles. It is one approach to the psychology of religion. As with all other organs and organ functions, the brain and cognition's functional structure have been argued to have a genetic basis,...
- Religion ExplainedReligion ExplainedReligion Explained: The Evolutionary Origins of Religious Thought is a book by cognitive anthropologist Pascal Boyer that discusses the evolutionary psychology and evolutionary origin of religions.-Synopsis:...
- Darwin's CathedralDarwin's CathedralDarwin's Cathedral is a 2002 book by David Sloan Wilson which proposes that religion is a multi-level adaptation, a product of cultural evolution developed through a process of multi-level selection. It is cited by approximately 200 books....
, by evolutionary biologist and anthropologist David Sloan WilsonDavid Sloan WilsonDavid Sloan Wilson is an American evolutionary biologist and a Distinguished Professor of Biological Sciences and Anthropology at Binghamton University. He is a son of the author Sloan Wilson.-Academic career:... - Scott AtranScott AtranScott Atran is an American and French anthropologist.-Education and early career:Atran was born in New York City in 1952 and he received his PhD in anthropology from Columbia University. While a student at Columbia, he became assistant to anthropologist Margaret Mead at the American Museum of...
, author of In Gods We Trust: The Evolutionary Landscape of Religion - The End of FaithThe End of FaithThe End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason is a book written by Sam Harris, concerning organized religion, the clash between religious faith and rational thought, and the problems of tolerance towards religious fundamentalism....
- The God DelusionThe God DelusionThe God Delusion is a 2006 bestselling non-fiction book by British biologist Richard Dawkins, professorial fellow of New College, Oxford, and inaugural holder of the Charles Simonyi Chair for the Public Understanding of Science at the University of Oxford.In The God Delusion, Dawkins contends that...
- God is Not GreatGod Is Not GreatGod Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything is a book by author and journalist Christopher Hitchens criticising religion. It was published in the United Kingdom as God Is Not Great: The Case Against Religion....
External links
- Breaking the spell panel -- Audio recording and transcript of panel organized by Royal Society of ArtsRoyal Society of ArtsThe Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
with Daniel Dennett and Alister McGrathAlister McGrathAlister Edgar McGrath is an Anglican priest, theologian, and Christian apologist, currently Professor of Theology, Ministry, and Education at Kings College London and Head of the Centre for Theology, Religion and Culture...
Reviews
- David B. Hart: Dennett Hunts the Snark, First ThingsFirst ThingsFirst Things is an ecumenical journal focused on creating a "religiously informed public philosophy for the ordering of society". The journal is inter-denominational and inter-religious, representing a broad intellectual tradition of Christian and Jewish critique of contemporary society...
- George Johnson: Getting a Rational Grip on Religion, Scientific AmericanScientific AmericanScientific American is a popular science magazine. It is notable for its long history of presenting science monthly to an educated but not necessarily scientific public, through its careful attention to the clarity of its text as well as the quality of its specially commissioned color graphics...
- Leon WieseltierLeon WieseltierLeon Wieseltier is an American writer, critic, and magazine editor. Since 1983 he has been the literary editor of The New Republic.Wieseltier was born in Brooklyn, New York and attended the Yeshiva of Flatbush, Columbia University, Oxford University, and Harvard University, and was a member of...
: The God Genome, The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
- Adam Kirsch: If Men Are From Mars, What's God, The New York Sun
- James Brookfield: Dennett’s dangerous idea, World Socialist Website
- Armin W. Geertz: How Not to Do the Cognitive Science of Religion Today, paper read at University of AarhusUniversity of AarhusAarhus University , located in the city of Aarhus, Denmark, is Denmark's second oldest and second largest university...
seminar.