How We Believe: The Search for God in an Age of Science

By admin on August 11th, 2009

How We Believe: The Search for God in an Age of Science

Customer Rating: Rating 3.5 out of 5

(61 Reviews)

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Product information Author: Michael Shermer
Manufacturer:
Publisher: San Val
Category: Book
Publication Date: October 2001
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 302
ISBN: 0613354133
Dewey Number: 215
Amazon ASIN:

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review: One hundred years ago social scientists predicted that belief in God would decrease by the year 2000. "In fact ... the opposite is has occurred," Shermer writes in his introduction. "Never in history have so many, and such a high percentage of the population, believed in God. Not only is God not dead as Nietzche proclaimed, but he has never been more alive."

Why do so many believe in the existence of something so inexplicable? That's exactly what Shermer answers in this comprehensive, intelligent, and highly readable discussion about the nature of faith. "People believe in God because the evidence of their senses tell them so," claims Shermer, who is the publisher of Skeptics magazine. Having been a believer and a student of the history of science, Shermer (now an agnostic) is more interested in knowing why and how people believe in God rather than trying to prove who's right or wrong. As a result, this book is not only even-handed and thorough, it is also destined to become a timeless contribution to spirituality as well as science. --Gail Hudson

Product Description: Recent polls report that 96% of Americans believe in God. Why is this? Why, despite the rise of science, technology, and secular education, are people turning to religion in greater numbers than ever before? Why do people believe in God at all?

These provocative questions lie at the heart of How We Believe, an illuminating new study of God, faith, and religion by best-selling author Michael Shermer. Offering fresh and often startling insights into age-old questions, Shermer's new book explores how and why humans put their faith in a higher power, even in the face of scientific skepticism. With characteristic logic and intellectual intensity, Shermer investigates such compelling topics as:

* What it means to believe or not believe in God today

* The evolution of religion as a powerful human institution

* "Is God Dead?" Why Nietzche and Time magazine were wrong

* What 10,000 Americans said in reply to the questions, "Why do you believe in God?" and "Why do you think other people believe in God?"

* "Proofs" of God's existence and what they tell us about faith

* How we can find meaning in an apparently meaningless universe

Whether believers or non-believers, we are all driven by the need to understand the universe and our place in it. Journeying to the heart of this ancient and mysterious desire, How We Believe is a brilliant tour de force that should be read by anyone trying to find their path to enlightenment. 30 illustrations.

Customer Reviews

I once was blind..

by Steve Skye 2007-06-05, 6 people found this review helpful

This was one of the most fascinating books I have read, everyday I looked forward to it. I was most impressed with Shermer's mastery of multiple and diverse disciplines, my IQ must have gone up a few points from reading such a well written and elegant tome. Its comprehensive style reminded me of Carl Sagan's "Cosmos" because it opened my mind to things I never considered and made me think. I find it difficult to point out what I liked about the book because it has so much to offer however I was moved as Shermer touchingly explained how he has found meaning in a world without god. I too was a Christian once and have gone though the same existential and philosophical struggles. I felt an intellectual and emotion freedom as I read of his appreciation in the awe of the natural world and his coming to understand his place in it as a "homo sapiens" or "wise man". Such considerate expression gave me a new understanding of what it means to be a freethinker.

cover is definitely misleading

by Joel Brown 2001-01-08, 13 people found this review helpful

This book was great. I read some of the other views which were alot less kind and did point out errors, but I really loved reading this selection nonetheless. Though I can't say that my beliefs mirror the authors, I felt that he is someone who thinks very similar to me, he is a true agnostic. He's honest and not bitter towards religion, and interested in "sacred science." The term that is probably best, that he uses, is nontheist rather than atheist. On debating (a)theism he has many good points made and refutations, such as that we could not even comprehend God (assuming that He existed) It goes back to using the analogy of explaining the 3rd dimension to 'Flatland.' Theres lots of debunking, he criticizes the most commonly used arguments for theism. (Ouch--some of the same ones I used to use..we all have our pasts) He shows the statistics derived from surveys on Why people believe in God, etc. which makes for some interesting material. And it goes to show that "God is dead" is a very false statement. Religiosity is on the rise in recent times. A couple of his debunking arguments did though make me reconsider some things that I used to agree with to some extent; however its not like he 100% renders them utterly useless...most of the arguments I would never use any way, the others may still remain as subtle evidence, but of course far from 'proof.' So as most books discuss WHY people believe, he surprisingly finds away to discuss HOW we believe, and our belief engines. There is alot of evolutionary perspective to this too, as well as anthropological, and the motifs that appear from us 'story-telling, pattern-seeking animals.' The chapter "The Fire that will Cleanse" is tantamount to a condensed version of Richard Abanes's book "End Time Visions." (I couldn't believe for a second I found a book that talked about Leland Jensen [leader of the Baha'i Under Provisions of the Covenant] ) With all this he basically looks at the theology we humans created in our history here on earth, and I take it he infers that history will repeat itself. I recommend this to basically anyone, definitely the philosophically inclined and especially those debaters on (a)theism.

A respectful critique of religion

by M. Paul 2007-10-21, 2 people found this review helpful

Shermer is a former born-again Christian, which is probably why he is more respectful of believers than, say, Richard Dawkins. I'm about half-way through this book, and I can say that it is probably the best book out there for any fence-sitting believers. He doesn't talk down to believers, he doesn't bitterly attack their belief system, and he doesn't try to be partisan. Instead, he gives a well-written, respectful critique of religion. I'd be willing to say that even Pat Robertson couldn't get offended by this book. Shermer's rhetoric is far too respectful and reasonable to draw lines between theists and atheists. He tries to unite both sides instead.