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How Religion Evolved

And Why It Endures

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How Religion Evolved

By: Robin Dunbar
Narrated by: John Sackville
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Religion is both unique - as far as we can judge - and universal to humans. Our species diverged from the great apes about six to eight million years ago and since then, along with language, our propensity towards spiritual thinking and ritual emerged. How, when and why did this occur, and how did the earliest, informal shamanic practices evolve into the world religions familiar to us today? What is the evolutionary purpose of religion, and are some individuals more inclined than others to be religious?

Robin Dunbar, Professor of Evolutionary Psychology at the University of Oxford, explores these and other key questions, mining the distinctions between religions of experience - as practised by hunter-gatherer societies since the earliest human history - and doctrinal religions, from Judaism, Christianity and Islam to Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Buddhism and their many derivatives. Examining religion's origins, social function, the effects of religious practice or feeling on the brain and body, and its place in the modern era, How Religion Evolved offers a fascinating and far-reaching analysis of this quintessentially human impulse - to believe.

© Robin Dunbar 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022

 Anthropology Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Religious Studies Judaism Middle East

Critic Reviews

Stimulating and hugely ambitious... A compelling intellectual workout. Dunbar offers a powerful central argument, an excellent survey of alternative theories and a wide range of vivid and illuminating examples... The story he tells is important to us all (Matthew Reisz)
Dunbar's intellectual interests are far-ranging, and he is as sure-footed talking about human cognition as congregation sizes... How Religion Evolved is learned, readable and sweeping (in the best sense of that word)... Hard to argue with (Nick Spencer)
When one of the most creative, insightful, and versatile evolutionary thinkers of our time turns his scientific gaze toward religion, it is no surprise that he delivers a landmark book that completely reshapes our understanding of religious belief, experience, and practice. In How Religion Evolved, Dunbar not only raises fundamental questions that previous scholars of religion have ignored, he offers novel solutions in a comprehensive narrative that is as engaging as it is informative. A gifted scientist and writer has given anyone interested in religion a genuine gift (Richard Sosis, James Barnett Professor of Humanistic Anthropology, University of Connecticut)
A book with impressive intellectual sweep (Clive Cookson)
All stars
Most relevant
I really enjoyed it, learned a lot and found myself marvelling at someone who could marshal so much information into coherent views of the subject

fascinating analysis of huge breadth

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Great analysis of evolution in religion from the beginning to now. Interesting points from archaeological point of view. No matter which side you are, you would enjoy reading this book. If religion, this would support your approach, and if atheist, it would be the same.

Excellent and generally unbiased

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Basically this is a well written and researched book. It is a must read book for any seeking an understanding of how religion has shaped both politics and society. The whole religious society however is Schismatic in nature. Dunbar fails to understand that every church, mosque etc is an individual entity.
Each entity has a leader whose belief system is adopted by the congregation. If the leader changes so does does its belief system. The differences between each congregation might not be huge but it is real and members of ,lets say one Baptist church, finds a another congregation whose leader expounds a view they relate to, they will move even it only a few kilometres. Each leader, whether knowingly or not, manipulates his congregation.

This is a must read book

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