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bristoni74 's review for:
This book puts forward the theory that human's belief in God has led to our success as a species. What I enjoyed about this author is his more balanced and sensible approach than the extreme views of someone like Richard Dawkins who is just a fundamentalist of a different kind. The author sees religion as a cultural construct but the belief in God (or something similar) as very different. He demonstrates through "theory of mind, how even non-believers we still turn to God to cope when dealing with death (our own and others), serious illness or tragedy. He explains how "theory of mind" enables us to find and apply meaning in our lives and reduce anxiety, whether it is those who thought that a flood was a punishment from God or when someone close to us passes we look for "signs" of them watching over us. This quote about a natural disaster was gold! "Yes God killed many people, acknowledged believers. But "praise Jesus", he spared a lot of lives too...namely theirs". This is a very accessible read and I found it one of the best books I have read that articulates so well our ability to self-reflect, plan and find meaning outside our immediate self. And coming to terms with our mortality can be difficult - which is why God is so important in many people's lives.