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. These insights are applied to both Judaism and Christianity, and their texts, to illustrate how our evolved mind shapes religious beliefs and influences human events. Contrary to the popular belief that religious violence is a corruption of true religion, carried out by individuals who twist its teachings, Teehan argues that religious violence is in fact grounded in the moral psychology of religion. This controversial argument is illustrated with reference to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and the response to the attacks from both the terrorists and the President. In the Name of God represents a fundamentally newapproach to the analysis of religion. By applying evolutionary psychology, wecan gain a fresh perspective on religious texts, and a better understanding of their contradictions and complexities, critical in combating religious violence, and promoting a more moral society.John Teehan is Associate Professor of Religion at Hofstra University. He is the author of numerous articles on the impact of evolutionary studies on morality and religion, as well as studies on the philosophy of John Dewey.

• ISBN: 978-1-4051-8382-6
• Editorial: Wiley-Blackwell
• Encuadernacion: Cartoné
• Páginas: 288
• Fecha Publicación: 06/04/2010
• Nº Volúmenes: 1
• Idioma: Inglés