How We Believe Science, Skepticism, and the Search for God [Paperback]

A new edition covering the latest scientific research on how the brain makes us believers or skeptics

Recent polls report that 96 percent of Americans believe in God, and 73 percent believe that angels regularly visit Earth. 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 ofHow We Believe, an illuminating study of God, faith, and religion. Bestselling author Michael Shermer offers fresh and often startling insights into age-old questions, including how and why humans put their faith in a higher power, even in the face of scientific skepticism. Shermer has updated the book to explore the latest research and theories of psychiatrists, neuroscientists, epidemiologists, and philosophers, as well as the role of faith in our increasingly diverse modern world.

Whether believers or nonbelievers, we are all driven by the need to understand the universe and our place in it.How We Believeis a brilliant scientific tour of this ancient and mysterious desire.

Recent polls show that 96% of Americans believe in God. Why are people turning to religion in greater numbers than ever before? InHow We Believe ,Michael Shermer presents the results of an exhaustive empirical study in which he asked 10,000 Americans how and why they believe and about details of their faith. The result offers fresh and startling insights into age-old questions.

Michael Shermeris the author ofThe Believing Brain,Why People Believe Weird Things,The Science of Good and Evil,The Mind Of The Market,Why Darwin Matters,Science Friction,How We Believeand other books on the evolution of human beliefs and behavior. He is the founding publisher ofSkepticmagazine, the editor of Skeptic.com, a monthly columnist forlƒ.