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How Religion Evolved
- And Why It Endures
- Narrated by: John Sackville
- Length: 8 hrs and 4 mins
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Summary
Brought to you by Penguin.
Religion is both unique—as far as we can judge—and universal to humans. Our species diverged from the great apes about six to eight million years ago, and since then, along with language, our propensity towards spiritual thinking and ritual emerged. How, when and why did this occur, and how did the earliest informal shamanic practices evolve into the world religions familiar to us today? What is the evolutionary purpose of religion, and are some individuals more inclined than others to be religious?
Robin Dunbar, professor of evolutionary psychology at the University of Oxford, explores these and other key questions, mining the distinctions between religions of experience—as practised by hunter-gatherer societies since the earliest human history—and doctrinal religions, from Judaism, Christianity and Islam to Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Buddhism and their many derivatives. Examining religion's origins, social function, the effects of religious practice or feeling on the brain and body, and its place in the modern era, How Religion Evolved offers a fascinating and far-reaching analysis of this quintessentially human impulse—to believe.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
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- Apotheosisz
- 05-06-22
Good stuff
fascinated about the religious mind enjoyed very much. Well researched could have gone a little more in depth...
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- Marcin Sz
- 16-12-22
See accompanying PDF
Various tables aren't explained, but assumed to be in the accompanying pdf (not provided)
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- Amazon Customer
- 14-10-22
Great text marred by ropey audio
I found this frustrating to listen to as the narrator sounded constantly out of breath. Not sure if this was a stylistic thing - unnecessary as the writing is fascinating enough to not need any additional drama in the reading - or just an issue with the edit or recording but those deep intakes of breath at the end of every sentence were really distracting and I couldn't finish it. Disappointing as the content was great!
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