HUMANIST GALAXY OF SECULAR BRAIN SCIENCE STARS = DANIEL DENNETT 10-21-21

ALPHABETICAL BRAIN™ VOCABULARY
HUMANIST GALAXY OF
SECULAR BRAIN SCIENCE STARS
DANIEL DENNETT
October 21, 2021

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BREAKING THE SPELL:
Religion as a Natural Phenomenon
by Daniel C. Dennett.
Viking, 2006
(i-xvi, 448 pages)

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Quote =

“wild”

“domesticated”

BOOK OUTLINE
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note = Numbers in parentheses refer to pages

PREFACE (xiii-xvi)

PART 1 — OPENING PANDORA’S BOX (1-28)

1) BREAKING WHICH SPELL? (3-

[2] What's going on? (3-

[3] A working definition of religion (7-

[4] To break or not to break (12-

[5] Peering into the abyss (17-

[6] Religion as a natural phenomenon (24-28)

2) SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT SCIENCE (29-53)

[3] Can science study religion? (29-

[4] Should science study religion? (34-

[5] Might music be bad for you? (40-

[6] Would neglect be more benign? (44-53)

3) WHY GOOD THINGS HAPPEN (54-93)

[1] Bringing out the best (54-

[2] Cui bono? (56-

[3] Asking what pays for religion (69-

[4] A Martian’s list of theories (74-93)

PART 2 — THE EVOLUTION OF RELIGION (95-115)

4) THE ROOTS OF RELIGION (97-115)

[1] I The births of religions (97-

[2] The raw materials of religion (104-

[3] How Nature deals with the problem of other minds (108-115) 5) RELIGION, THE EARLY DAYS (116-152)

[1] Too many agents — competition for rehearsal space (116-

[2] Gods as interested parties (125-

[3] Getting the gods to speak to us (132-

[4] Shamans as hypnotists (135-

[5] Memory-engineering devices in oral cultures (141-152)

6) THE EVOLUTION OF STEWARDSHIP (153-174)

[1] The music of religion (153-

[2] Folk religion as practical know-how (156-

[3] Creeping reflection and the birth of secrecy in religion (162-

[4] The domestication of religions (167-174)

7) THE INVENTION OF TEAM SPIRIT (175-199)

[1]A path paved with good intentions (175-

[2]The ant colony and the corporation (179-

[3] The growth market in religion (189-

[4] A God you can talk to (193-199)

8) BELIEF IN BELIEF (200-246)

[1] You better believe it (200-

[2] God as intentional object (210-

[3] The division of doxastic labor (217-

[4] The lowest common denominator? (222-

[5] Beliefs designed to be professed (226-

[6] Lessons from Lebanon — the strange cases of the Druze and Kim Philby (234-

[7] Does God exist? (240-246)

PART 3 — RELIGION TODAY (249-)

9) TOWARD A BUYER’S GUIDE TO RELIGIONS (249-277)

[1] For the love of God (249-

[2] The academic smoke screen (258-

[3] Why does it matter what you believe? (264-

[4] What can your religion do for you? (270-277)

10) MORALITY AND RELIGION (278-307)

[1] Does religion make us moral? (278-

[2] Is religion what gives meaning to your life? (286-

[3] What can We say about sacred values? (292-

[4] Bless my soul — spirituality and selfishness (302-307)

11) NOW WHAT DO WE DO? (308-339)

[1] Just a theory (308-

[2] Some avenues to explore — how can we home in on religious conviction? (314-

[3] What shall we tell the children? (321-

[4] Toxic memes (328-

[5] Patience and politics (334-339)

Like the non-fanatical Islam leaders in the Islamic world on whom the world is counting on to cleanse Islam of toxic excess, the non-fanatical Christians have the influence, the knowledge, and the responsibility to help the nation protect itself from those who would betray our democracy in pursuit of their religious agendas. Since we certainly do not want to relive McCarthyism in the 21st century, we should approach this task with maximal public accountability and disclosure, in a bipartisan spirit, and in the full light of public attention. But of course this will require that we break the traditional taboo against inquiring so openly and searchingly about religious affiliations and convictions. So, in the end, my central policy recommendation is that we gently, firmly educate the people of the world, so that they can make truly informed choices about their lives.

Ignorance is nothing shameful; but imposing ignorance is shameful!

Most people are not to blame for their own ignorance, but if they willfully pass it on, they should be blamed. One might think this is so obvious that it hardly needs proposing, but in many quarters there is substantial resistance to it. People are afraid of being more ignorant than their children — especially, apparently, their daughters. We are going to have to persuade them that there are few pleasures more honorable and joyful than being instructed by your own children. It Will be fascinating to see what institutions and projects our children will devise, building on the foundations earlier generations have built and preserved for them, to carry us all more safely into the future. (Paraphrased slightly by webmaster to freshen the ideas)

APPENDIXES: (340-389)

A — The New Replicators (341-357)

B — Some More Questions About Science (359-378)

C — The Bellboy and the Lady Named Tuck (379-386)

D — Kim Philby as a Real Case of Indeterminacy of Radical Interpretation (387-389)

NOTES (391-412)

BIBLIOGRAPHY (413-426)

INDEX (427-448)

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AUTHOR NOTE, SUMMARY,
AND BOOK DESCRIPTION
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SUMMARY = Daniel Dennett is an innovative thinker who tackles the controversial question of why we believe in God and how religion shapes our lives and our future. For many people, there is nothing more important than religion. It is an integral part of their marriage, child rearing, and community. In this daring new book, distinguished philosopher Dennett takes a careful look at this phenomenon and asks why. Where does our devotion to God come from and what purpose does it serve? Is religion a blind evolutionary compulsion or a rational choice? (Adapted by webmaster from publisher's blog)

BOOK DESCRIPTION = The book is not an anti-religious screed but rather an eye-opening exploration of the role that religious belief plays in our lives and our interactions. Dennett has written a timely and provocative book that can be read and passionately debated by believers and nonbelievers alike. With the gulf between rationalists and adherents of "intelligent design" widening daily, he deftly and lucidly argues that the time has come to shed the light of science on the fundamental questions of faith. In a spirited narrative that ranges widely through history, philosophy, and psychology, he explores how organized religion evolved from folk beliefs and why it is such a potent force today. He contends that the "belief in belief" has fogged any attempt to rationally consider the existence of God and the relationship between divinity and human needs. (Adapted by webmaster from publisher's blog)

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EDITORIAL REVIEWS
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PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY REVIEW = In his characteristically provocative fashion, Dennett, author of Darwin's Dangerous Idea and director of the Center for Cognitive Studies at Tufts University, calls for a scientific, rational examination of religion that will lead us to understand what purpose religion serves in our culture. Much like E.O. Wilson (In Search of Nature), Robert Wright (The Moral Animal), and Richard Dawkins (The Selfish Gene), Dennett explores religion as a cultural phenomenon governed by the processes of evolution and natural selection. Religion survives because it has some kind of beneficial role in human life, yet Dennett argues that it has also played a maleficent role. He elegantly pleads for religions to engage in empirical self-examination to protect future generations from the ignorance so often fostered by religion hiding behind doctrinal smoke screens. Because Dennett offers a tentative proposal for exploring religion as a natural phenomenon, his book is sometimes plagued by generalizations that leave us wanting more ("Only when we can frame a comprehensive view of the many aspects of religion can we formulate defensible policies for how to respond to religions in the future"). Although much of the ground he covers has already been well trod, he clearly throws down a gauntlet to religion.

BOOKLIST REVIEW = A century and a half after Darwin rattled religionists with his revolutionary theory of human origins, one of his disciples has intensified the challenge to faith by advancing an evolutionary account of religion itself. Weaving together research in anthropology, genetics, and psychology, Dennett argues that religion first emerged not as a divine gift but rather as a thoroughly natural adaptation for enhancing the reproductive success of the species. Even more provocatively, Dennett further argues that religion — like language — has subsequently evolved so as to ensure its own survival in the ceaseless winnowing of cultural mutations. The pious in most faiths will likely protest that this approach gives only the husk, not the spirit, of religion, but Dennett insists that his study will ultimately benefit society by exposing the myths that empower fanatical terrorists. Remarkably bold, Dennett's agenda includes plans for preventing overzealous parents from instilling their faith in their children and for deploying the technology of mass advertising to foster religious doubt. A book certain to spark heated controversy. – Bryce Christensen.

CHOICE REVIEW = Believing that religion is an unfortunate spell to which humankind is bound, Dennett (Tufts) is out to break it. In a previously published essay he described people who had rid themselves of traditional religious beliefs as "brights"; the present work expands and defends the brights' position. Although Dennett says little that is entirely new to reasonable skeptics, informed atheists, and unreligious scientists, his book is witty, intelligent, and persuasive. He is not out to destroy religion, but to analyze it from scientific perspectives. Dennett regards religion as just another invention to serve human needs, rather than a revealer of truths or a vehicle that offers a postmortem ride to another world. His analysis of religion and its emergence is sharp and insightful, and as informative as that of a master anthropologist about an exotic culture. All people are under the spell of something — whether fanatical religion or uncompromising rationality. Redemption for the brights consists of breaking the spell of religion and coming under the spell of pure rationality in the appraisal and experience of everything human. Though this penetrating work may not transform millions into brights, it is welcome in an age when mindless religious fanaticism wreaks worldwide havoc and sometimes tries to distort or usurp science. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-upper-level undergraduates. V. V. Raman emeritus, Rochester Institute of Technology

LIBRARY JOURNAL REVIEW = Who better than the director of the Center for Cognitive Studies at Tufts and the author of books like Darwin's Dangerous Ideas to consider why so many people follow a faith.

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