Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
The research aspect of this book was riveting and convincing. Totally plausible theory backed up with citations and game-theory. It's when he starts extrapolating these theories into the existence of God that he started to lose me. Wright's main point - that the moral evolution of the idea of god indicates his existence - seemed a struggle to follow. More realistically, it seems that wrath and brimstone concepts follow a political structure that is powerful and not easily intimidated, whereas inclusive, humanistic concepts are prone to development in cultures that have more to gain from forming political alliances.
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
This book really reframed the way I consider Western religion. The practical and logical descriptions are enlightening.
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Great history of the development of Western religions, from a historical and academic perspective, tracing the origins of Judaism through Christianity and Islam, and showing the historical context of their rise and spread. Fundamentalist Jews/Christians/Muslims will not be too enamored with this book, but I'm guessing they wouldn't be reading a book with "evolution" in its title anyway.
challenging
informative
slow-paced
This book almost solely about the evolution of the Judeo/Christian/Islamic deity, starting with ideas in the ancient near east and how they changed to become early versions of YHWH to Christianity and then Islam. I remain skeptical of some of the ideas expressed here but I still found them interesting and plausible. I liked the first half of this book, but by the second half, this book started to seem like a 500 page advertisement for his Nonzero book and was harder to get through. This book ends with a dialog between a physicist and a theist which I found so terrible that I had to lower my rating an additional star.
long, rugged reading: the evolving moral imagination through the Abrahamic religions. What a journey!
as someone who is devoutly non religious to the point of being borderline religionphobic, this book was exactly what i wanted. it teaches, from an anthropological and sociopolitical/socioeconomic perspective, about the evolution of religion and god(s). 4 stars because it’s a bit overwrought and could have been organized better
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. As someone who considers himself religious, I can see how a reader who is religious might find this book less enjoyable. However, I think any reader, despite their background should be able to find plenty of interesting insights if they read it with an open mind.
Wright has a balanced approach to religion. He aims to provide a nuanced understanding rather than simply critiquing belief systems. His exploration of the historical and cultural contexts of religions fosters a broader worldview, allowing readers from diverse backgrounds to engage with the material thoughtfully. He also emphasizes the potential for religion to evolve and adapt positively over time, and many of his ideas probably will resonate with those seeking a more holistic view of faith.
A couple of first impressions. The author references his previous book, Zero Sum, extensively. I have not read his previous book, which I felt put me at a disadvantage. I wish he had provided more context or elaboration, particularly when applying the zero-sum framework to religious dynamics. This can make certain arguments feel less accessible or convincing for readers who haven't read his earlier book. I appreciated the insights he offers but clearer explanations would enhance the reading experience for a broader audience.
In chapter 2 and 3, the author talks a lot about Polynesian culture and the worship of the stars. His views on how politicians could predict the weather based on the stars and their worship of the Stars aligns with Rodney Starks Victory of Reason and scientific progress. While Wright emphasizes that the worship of the stars may have been misguided, he highlights how it ultimately contributed to a deeper understanding of the natural world and navigation. This aligns with Stark's thesis that religious beliefs can spur the development of reason and scientific inquiry.
I did appreciate this intersection, as it illustrates how seemingly irrational beliefs can have practical outcomes that lead to progress. However, Wright's focus is more on the evolutionary trajectory of religious thought rather than explicitly arguing that religion is a direct catalyst for science. Still, the thematic, I would think will overlap with readers who see the value in both authors’ perspectives on the interplay between faith, reason, and discovery.
I believe this builds on Wrights later point in chapters 8 and 9, where he says that there may not be physical proof of the existence of a God, but if humanity in general were evolving toward a higher purpose, or moral progress, that would at least point to a higher purpose, whether that be a God, Higher Power, or whatever you interpret that to be. This is probably an over-simplification of Wrights argument, but I think it aligns with Starks, that although sometimes religions have been misguided, humanity as a whole seems to be moving in a positive direction. This also echoes Steven Pinker's The Better Angels of our Nature, where he shows how violence has declined over time, and that humanity is overall becoming more moral and more empathetic toward each other.
Wright’s suggestion that humanity may be evolving toward a higher moral purpose will probably appeal to readers who appreciate the broader theme of moral progress over time, despite the historical missteps of various belief systems. Wright’s perspective can be seen as a hopeful view of human evolution, paralleling Pinker’s assertion in The Better Angels of Our Nature that violence has declined and empathy has increased. This connection highlights a shared optimism about the trajectory of human society, suggesting that even flawed beliefs can contribute to a more compassionate and understanding world.
A theme throughout the book is how all "new" religions are based off of old religions, old ideas, and previous traditions. This is a theme very much present in the book Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World. However, I appreciate Wrights encapsulation of the ideas as they are far more comprehensive. And it is interesting to see how the evolution of thought and beliefs borrowed on each other throughout time.
My biggest complaint about the book was the transition between the historical exploration of Abrahamic religions and the later psychological analysis in The Evolution of God. I found that the shift in focus felt abrupt and less cohesive, especially after the rich detail and narrative in the earlier chapters.
While Wright introduces interesting psychological concepts, they sometimes lack the depth and nuance that characterize his historical analysis. Having recently read Sapolsky's Behave, I felt that Wright’s exploration of psychology comes across as too brief or oversimplified, leading to a sense of disconnection from the earlier discussions.
I wish there had been a more integrated approach that maintains the same level of depth throughout the book, allowing the psychological insights to complement the historical narrative rather than feel like a separate, less developed section.
Wright has a balanced approach to religion. He aims to provide a nuanced understanding rather than simply critiquing belief systems. His exploration of the historical and cultural contexts of religions fosters a broader worldview, allowing readers from diverse backgrounds to engage with the material thoughtfully. He also emphasizes the potential for religion to evolve and adapt positively over time, and many of his ideas probably will resonate with those seeking a more holistic view of faith.
A couple of first impressions. The author references his previous book, Zero Sum, extensively. I have not read his previous book, which I felt put me at a disadvantage. I wish he had provided more context or elaboration, particularly when applying the zero-sum framework to religious dynamics. This can make certain arguments feel less accessible or convincing for readers who haven't read his earlier book. I appreciated the insights he offers but clearer explanations would enhance the reading experience for a broader audience.
In chapter 2 and 3, the author talks a lot about Polynesian culture and the worship of the stars. His views on how politicians could predict the weather based on the stars and their worship of the Stars aligns with Rodney Starks Victory of Reason and scientific progress. While Wright emphasizes that the worship of the stars may have been misguided, he highlights how it ultimately contributed to a deeper understanding of the natural world and navigation. This aligns with Stark's thesis that religious beliefs can spur the development of reason and scientific inquiry.
I did appreciate this intersection, as it illustrates how seemingly irrational beliefs can have practical outcomes that lead to progress. However, Wright's focus is more on the evolutionary trajectory of religious thought rather than explicitly arguing that religion is a direct catalyst for science. Still, the thematic, I would think will overlap with readers who see the value in both authors’ perspectives on the interplay between faith, reason, and discovery.
I believe this builds on Wrights later point in chapters 8 and 9, where he says that there may not be physical proof of the existence of a God, but if humanity in general were evolving toward a higher purpose, or moral progress, that would at least point to a higher purpose, whether that be a God, Higher Power, or whatever you interpret that to be. This is probably an over-simplification of Wrights argument, but I think it aligns with Starks, that although sometimes religions have been misguided, humanity as a whole seems to be moving in a positive direction. This also echoes Steven Pinker's The Better Angels of our Nature, where he shows how violence has declined over time, and that humanity is overall becoming more moral and more empathetic toward each other.
Wright’s suggestion that humanity may be evolving toward a higher moral purpose will probably appeal to readers who appreciate the broader theme of moral progress over time, despite the historical missteps of various belief systems. Wright’s perspective can be seen as a hopeful view of human evolution, paralleling Pinker’s assertion in The Better Angels of Our Nature that violence has declined and empathy has increased. This connection highlights a shared optimism about the trajectory of human society, suggesting that even flawed beliefs can contribute to a more compassionate and understanding world.
A theme throughout the book is how all "new" religions are based off of old religions, old ideas, and previous traditions. This is a theme very much present in the book Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World. However, I appreciate Wrights encapsulation of the ideas as they are far more comprehensive. And it is interesting to see how the evolution of thought and beliefs borrowed on each other throughout time.
My biggest complaint about the book was the transition between the historical exploration of Abrahamic religions and the later psychological analysis in The Evolution of God. I found that the shift in focus felt abrupt and less cohesive, especially after the rich detail and narrative in the earlier chapters.
While Wright introduces interesting psychological concepts, they sometimes lack the depth and nuance that characterize his historical analysis. Having recently read Sapolsky's Behave, I felt that Wright’s exploration of psychology comes across as too brief or oversimplified, leading to a sense of disconnection from the earlier discussions.
I wish there had been a more integrated approach that maintains the same level of depth throughout the book, allowing the psychological insights to complement the historical narrative rather than feel like a separate, less developed section.