How Religion Evolved
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  • Published: 18 July 2023
  • ISBN: 9780241431795
  • Imprint: Penguin Press
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 352
  • RRP: $26.00

How Religion Evolved

And Why It Endures

Formats & editions
Paperback
18 Jul 2023
EBook
6 Jan 2022
Audiobook
7 Apr 2022
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A fascinating analysis of the evolution of religion from the internationally renowned evolutionary psychologist

When did humans develop spiritual thought? What is religion's evolutionary purpose? And in our increasingly secular world, why has it endured?

Every society in the history of humanity has lived with religion. In How Religion Evolved, evolutionary psychologist Professor Robin Dunbar tracks its origins back to what he terms the 'mystical stance' - the aspect of human psychology that predisposes us to believe in a transcendent world, and which makes an encounter with the spiritual possible. As he explores world religions and their many derivatives, as well as religions of experience practised by hunter-gatherer societies since time immemorial, Dunbar argues that this instinct is not a peculiar human quirk, an aberration on our otherwise efficient evolutionary journey. Rather, religion confers an advantage: it can benefit our individual health and wellbeing, but, more importantly, it fosters social bonding at large scale, helping hold fractious societies together. Dunbar suggests these dimensions might provide the basis for an overarching theory for why and how humans are religious, and so help unify the myriad strands that currently populate this field.

Drawing on path-breaking research, clinical case studies and fieldwork from around the globe, as well as stories of charismatic cult leaders, mysterious sects and lost faiths, How Religion Evolved offers a fascinating and far-reaching analysis of this quintessentially human impulse - to believe.
  • Published: 18 July 2023
  • ISBN: 9780241431795
  • Imprint: Penguin Press
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 352
  • RRP: $26.00
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About the author

Robin Dunbar

Robin Dunbar is Professor of Evolutionary Psychology at the University of Oxford and an Emeritus Fellow of Magdalen College. He is best known for the social brain hypothesis, the gossip theory of language evolution and Dunbar's Number (the limit of 150 on the number of relationships that we can manage). His books include Evolutionary Psychology: A Beginner's Guide, How Religion Evolved and Friends.

Also by Robin Dunbar

The Social Brain
Human Evolution
See all

Praise for How Religion Evolved

When one of the most creative, insightful, and versatile evolutionary thinkers of our time turns his scientific gaze toward religion, it is no surprise that he delivers a landmark book that completely reshapes our understanding of religious belief, experience, and practice. In How Religion Evolved, Dunbar not only raises fundamental questions that previous scholars of religion have ignored, he offers novel solutions in a comprehensive narrative that is as engaging as it is informative. A gifted scientist and writer has given anyone interested in religion a genuine gift

Richard Sosis, James Barnett Professor of Humanistic Anthropology, University of Connecticut

Dunbar's intellectual interests are far-ranging, and he is as sure-footed talking about human cognition as congregation sizes... How Religion Evolved is learned, readable and sweeping (in the best sense of that word)... Hard to argue with

Nick Spencer, Financial Times

Stimulating and hugely ambitious... A compelling intellectual workout. Dunbar offers a powerful central argument, an excellent survey of alternative theories and a wide range of vivid and illuminating examples... The story he tells is important to us all

Matthew Reisz, Observer

A book with impressive intellectual sweep

Clive Cookson, Financial Times