How Religion Evolved
And Why It Endures
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How Religion Evolved
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Narrated by:
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John Sackville
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By:
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Robin Dunbar
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.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
©2022 Robin Dunbar (P)2022 Penguin AudioListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about How Religion Evolved
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 12-07-24
Great Reading
Enjoyed a book after so long.Packed with knowledge and history. Will recommend to friends and family.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Apotheosisz
- 05-06-22
Good stuff
fascinated about the religious mind enjoyed very much. Well researched could have gone a little more in depth...
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ye Olde Cynic
- 30-06-24
Poor sound quality
What should have been an excellent book, marred by poor audio quality. Returned because I just couldn't finish it.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 14-10-22
Great text marred by ropey audio
I found this frustrating to listen to as the narrator sounded constantly out of breath. Not sure if this was a stylistic thing - unnecessary as the writing is fascinating enough to not need any additional drama in the reading - or just an issue with the edit or recording but those deep intakes of breath at the end of every sentence were really distracting and I couldn't finish it. Disappointing as the content was great!
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Marcin Sz
- 16-12-22
See accompanying PDF
Various tables aren't explained, but assumed to be in the accompanying pdf (not provided)
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- JAL
- 17-10-24
Dreadful audio
Dreadful audio where the narrator sounds constantly out of breath taking large gulps of air audibly between each sentence ruins this one for me.
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