Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon

Daniel C. Dennett

Penguin Books Limited, Mar 29, 2007 - Religion - 464 pages

Few forces in the world are as potent as religion: it comforts people in their suffering and inspires them to both magnificent and terrible deeds. In this provocative and timely book, Daniel C. Dennett seeks to uncover the origins of religion and discusses how and why different faiths have shaped so many lives, whether religion is an addiction or a genuine human need, and even whether it is good for our health. Arguing passionately for the need to understand this multifaceted phenomenon, Breaking the Spell offers a truly original – and comprehensive – explanation for faith.

What people are saying

LibraryThing Review

User Review  - Razinha - LibraryThing

This was a challenge. I kept putting it aside after reading a few pages, picking it up and digesting a bit more, until about six years ago when I tucked it in my night stand for what I thought would ...

LibraryThing Review

User Review  - GlennBell - LibraryThing

The author attempts to kindly encourage religious people as well as non-religious people to read his book. He spends a great deal of time trying to be pleasant and thoughtful of those who are ...

About the author

Daniel Dennett is one of the most original and provocative thinkers in the world. A brilliant polemicist and philosopher, he is famous for challenging unexamined orthodoxies. His books include Brainstorms, Brainchildren, Elbow Room, Consciousness Explained, Darwin’s Dangerous Idea and Freedom Evolves. He lives in North Andover, Massachusetts.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon
• Author: Daniel C. Dennett
• Publisher: Penguin Books Limited, 2007
• ISBN: 0141903139, 9780141903132
• Length: 464 pages
• Subjects: Religion / Philosophy; Religion / Religion & Science