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* George Johnson: [http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=getting-a-rational-grip-o ''Getting a Rational Grip on Religion''], ''[[Scientific American]]''
* George Johnson: [http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=getting-a-rational-grip-o ''Getting a Rational Grip on Religion''], ''[[Scientific American]]''
* [[Leon Wieseltier]]: [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/19/books/review/19wieseltier.html?ex=1298005200&en=9fcb401ef9fc3e82&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss ''The God Genome''], [[The New York Times]]
* [[Leon Wieseltier]]: [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/19/books/review/19wieseltier.html?ex=1298005200&en=9fcb401ef9fc3e82&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss ''The God Genome''], [[The New York Times]]
** [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/05/books/review/05mail.html?ex=1158724800&en=52c105822fb1d54c&ei=5070 Dennett's letter to the editor of ''The New York Times'', with Wieseltier's reply]{{registration required}}
** [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/05/books/review/05mail.html?ex=1158724800&en=52c105822fb1d54c&ei=5070 Dennett's letter to the editor of ''The New York Times'', with Wieseltier's reply]
* Adam Kirsch: [http://www.nysun.com/article/27182 ''If Men Are From Mars, What's God''], ''[[The New York Sun]]''
* Adam Kirsch: [http://www.nysun.com/article/27182 ''If Men Are From Mars, What's God''], ''[[The New York Sun]]''
* James Brookfield: ''[http://www.wsws.org/articles/2006/nov2006/spel-n06.shtml Dennett’s dangerous idea]'', [[World Socialist Website]]
* James Brookfield: ''[http://www.wsws.org/articles/2006/nov2006/spel-n06.shtml Dennett’s dangerous idea]'', [[World Socialist Website]]

Revision as of 21:17, 30 March 2010

Breaking the Spell
AuthorDaniel C. Dennett
SubjectReligion
PublisherViking (Penguin)
Publication date
2006
ISBNISBN 0-670-03472-X Parameter error in {{ISBNT}}: invalid character
OCLC61240665
200 22
LC ClassBL2775.3 .D46 2006
Preceded bySweet Dreams: Philosophical Obstacles to a Science of Consciousness 

Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon is a 2006 book by the American philosopher 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.

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 memetics 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.

Definition

Dennett's working definition of religions is, "social systems whose participants avow belief in a supernatural 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

Reviews

See also

External links

References

Dennett, Daniel C. (2006), Breaking the Spell, Viking (Penguin), ISBN 0-670-03472-X {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |subtitle= ignored (help)

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