Citation

Steuer M. Evol. Psychol. 2006; 4: 95-101.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, The Author(s), Publisher Ian Pitchford and Robert M. Young)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Reviews the book, "Breaking the spell: Religion as a natural phenomenon" by Daniel C. Dennett and Allen Lane (see record 2006-08781-000). Breaking the spell is about religion and the spell it holds over the minds of many people. The phrase 'breaking the spell' turns out to be somewhat ambiguous. It could mean persuading believers to abandon their religion. That is not the meaning Dennett has in mind most of the time. But it is what he means at some points. Throughout most of this book, 'breaking the spell' has a different meaning. It means encouraging thinking about religion as a natural phenomenon, as Dennett puts it. This means that we bring the same kind of thought and evidence to bear on our understanding of religion as we bring to bird migration and volcanic eruptions. The book is engagingly written, full of interesting snippets of biological information and telling philosophical analogies. One of the best of these analogies is a comparison of love of music with love of God. On the face of it, the broad thrust and intention of this long book is reasonably clear. On reflection that clarity disappeared, for this reviewer at least. I am left wondering if I am misinterpreting the book, or if Dennett has produced something complex, even quite brilliant, but centered on a flaw in judgment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)