In the Name of God: The Evolutionary Origins of Religious Ethics and Violence [Paperback]

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.

• Introduces a fundamentally new approach to the analysis of religion in a style accessible to the general reader
• Applies insights from evolutionary and cognitive psychology to both Judaism and Christianity, and their texts, to help understand the origins of religious violence
• Argues that religious violence is grounded in the moral psychology of religion
• Illustrates its controversial argument with reference to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and the response to the attacks from both the terrorists and the President. Suggests strategies for beginning to counter the divisive aspects of religion
• Discusses the role of religion and religious criticism in the contemporary world. Argues for a position sceptical of the moral authority of religion, while also critiquing the excesses of the new atheists for failing to appreciate the moral contributions of religion
• Awarded Honourable Mention, 2010 Prose Awards

Acknowledgments.

Introduction: Evolution and Mind.

1. The Evolution of Morality.

Setting the Task.

The Moral Brain.

The First Layer: Kin Selection.

The Second Layer: Reciprocal Altruism.

A Third Layer: Indirect Reciprocity.

A Fourth Layer: Cultural Group Selection.

A Fifth Layer: The Moral Emotions.

Conclusion: From Moral Grammar to Moral Systel£&