by William Grassie. Based to a large extent on his own previously published articles, Grassie (founder, Metanexus Institute) presents an ambitious overview of contemporary work in the scientific study of religion, and attempts to show how current scientific understanding of the world can be compatible with--and even form the basis for--religious belief in what he calls "God-by-whatever-name," thereby closing the gap between science and religion. The early chapters focus on the function of the phenomenon of religion and its development as viewed from the perspectives of economics, evolutionary psychology, neuroscience, and medicine. The conclusion of the later chapters, that "religions are all partly right," will probably persuade neither the militant atheist nor fundamentalist apologist, but may establish a useful starting place for further dialogue among those whose minds are open. Ranging from Auguste Comte and Adam Smith to Clifford Geertz and Paul Ricouer, the book may attempt to cover too much (the index alone comprises 24 pages of three columns of reduced print). But the writing is clear, and the presentation balanced. --Choice (Check Catalog)
Thursday, September 15, 2011
The new sciences of religion : exploring spirituality from the outside in and bottom up
by William Grassie. Based to a large extent on his own previously published articles, Grassie (founder, Metanexus Institute) presents an ambitious overview of contemporary work in the scientific study of religion, and attempts to show how current scientific understanding of the world can be compatible with--and even form the basis for--religious belief in what he calls "God-by-whatever-name," thereby closing the gap between science and religion. The early chapters focus on the function of the phenomenon of religion and its development as viewed from the perspectives of economics, evolutionary psychology, neuroscience, and medicine. The conclusion of the later chapters, that "religions are all partly right," will probably persuade neither the militant atheist nor fundamentalist apologist, but may establish a useful starting place for further dialogue among those whose minds are open. Ranging from Auguste Comte and Adam Smith to Clifford Geertz and Paul Ricouer, the book may attempt to cover too much (the index alone comprises 24 pages of three columns of reduced print). But the writing is clear, and the presentation balanced. --Choice (Check Catalog)
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