In this sweeping narrative, which takes us from the Stone Age to the Information Age, Robert Wright unveils an astonishing discovery: there is a hidden pattern that the great monotheistic faiths have followed as they have evolved. Through the prisms of archeology, theology, and evolutionary psychology, Wright's findings overturn basic assumptions about Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and are sure to cause controversy. He explains why spirituality has a role today and why science, contrary to conventional wisdom, affirms the validity of the religious quest. And this previously unrecognized evolutionary logic points not toward continued religious extremism but to future harmony. Nearly a decade in the making, The Evolution of God is a breathtaking reexamination of the past and a visionary look forward.
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"Robert Wright is a terrific writer. This is a heady work -- starting with hunter/gatherer societies and taking us through the beginnings of Christianity and Islam. The premise is that God always has been made in the image and likeness and man. God has evolved over the centuries to reflect "conditions in the ground," which help makes sense of the various "Gods" seen in the Old Testament -- e.g. the warrior god and the protective god, in the Koran -- (pretty much the same) - the warrior god and the peace loving, tolerant god; and in the New Testament where we have the itinerant Jewish preacher of Mark (the first gospel, written about 30 years after Jesus's death), the miracle worker of Luke, the aesthetic, airy God/man of John, and the star wars god of Revelations. Paul is presented as the all time greatest franchiser as he sets up Christian franchises throughout Greece and Roman Empire, creatively shifting doctrine as needed to keep the developing flock together. It is a very scholarly but very readable and often humorous unpacking of the world's three great religious mythologies. He is hopeful in that he sees human nature moving -- albeit with fits and starts - towards greater tolerance and morality. He acknowledges a higher purpose and creative force but asserts, I think accurately, that all religions are approximations that do not even near the "real" divine force, which simply is unavailable to the human intellect. They are, therefore, socio/politico/economic/cultural mythologies. I loved it and have purchased Wright's two other books." — Mary (5 out of 5 stars)
"Robert Wright is a terrific writer. This is a heady work -- starting with hunter/gatherer societies and taking us through the beginnings of Christianity and Islam. The premise is that God always has been made in the image and likeness and man. God has evolved over the centuries to reflect "conditions in the ground," which help makes sense of the various "Gods" seen in the Old Testament -- e.g. the warrior god and the protective god, in the Koran -- (pretty much the same) - the warrior god and the peace loving, tolerant god; and in the New Testament where we have the itinerant Jewish preacher of Mark (the first gospel, written about 30 years after Jesus's death), the miracle worker of Luke, the aesthetic, airy God/man of John, and the star wars god of Revelations. Paul is presented as the all time greatest franchiser as he sets up Christian franchises throughout Greece and Roman Empire, creatively shifting doctrine as needed to keep the developing flock together. It is a very scholarly but very readable and often humorous unpacking of the world's three great religious mythologies. He is hopeful in that he sees human nature moving -- albeit with fits and starts - towards greater tolerance and morality. He acknowledges a higher purpose and creative force but asserts, I think accurately, that all religions are approximations that do not even near the "real" divine force, which simply is unavailable to the human intellect. They are, therefore, socio/politico/economic/cultural mythologies. I loved it and have purchased Wright's two other books."
“His core argument, that religion is getting ‘better’ with each passing aeon, is enthralling.”
[An] in-depth approach yields original insights.
" I wish I had stopped reading at the end of section 3. His personal views are too prevalent in sections 4 and 5 (On Islam and the globalization of religion, respectively). The author also needs to find another way to describe "non-zero sum" game theory scenarios, the repetition of the word becomes quite obnoxious. Otherwise this was an easily digestible compilation of scholarly material which is often glossed over in traditional theological approaches. "
" Interesting--especially the political context of religion, but I didn't necessarily buy the overall thesis. "
" still plugging away at this one "
" Wright usually grabs me fast and holds on, but this time I snoozed a little through the first half. Things picked up in the second half when he had biblical material to work with. For a better treatment of the evolution of pre-Christian religion, see Karen Armstrong or Elaine Pagels. "
" This is a very interesting read. I liked it very much and look forward to discussing it with anyone else who has read it! "
" Really really good book.This guy is very intelligent and articulate. This is the second book I have read by him and now consider him one of my favorite authors. He came to a surprising conclusion at the end, one I disagree with, but still thought provoking. "
" A pretty good history of religion, from paganism to modern Abrahamic religions. The books gives a good understanding of the progression without being too dry... "
" A very thought provoking book. (read 9/16/09). "
" Great pull-quote from almost the very last page of the book: "Religion arose out of a hodgepodge of genetically based mental mechanisms designed by natural selection for thoroughly mundane purposes." "
" Just finished listening to it yesterday and started it again this morning. So much to take in, but a must-read for anyone interested in theology or religious history. Great insights by Wright. "
" This book opened my mind in ways I never imagined possible. It allowed me to re-examine my long-held beliefs and faith, opening up a new world for me. "
" A good, well-researched read. Still coming from an atheistic P.O.V., the author finds societal, evolutionary value and explanation for morality-inducing religions. "
" A convincing argument for the materialist origination of religion, but he takes a turn in the last chapter that is...in a word...unconvincing. Definitely worth reading though. "
" Social history of religion, how it affects society for better or worse, from being a necessary component of tribal societies to more inclusive (and sometimes exclusive) monotheistic religions. Very interesting stuff! "
" A largely dispassionate look at how Hebrews, Christians, and Muslims have changed their idea of god through the ages. "
" Good book,It's interesting to see how concepts grow over time. "
" Interesting book about religion through different centuries. "
" God! This book is quite a journey through cultural history, evolutionary history and social psychology. Very good read! Wright draws upon disciplines of archeology, theology, anthropology, and evolutional psychology. "
" A good history of the likely evolution of God. Always good to have a Reference. "
" Read it, and then read it again. Lots of stuff they don't teach in Sunday school. "
Robert Wright is the New York Times bestselling author of The Evolution of God, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize; Nonzero; The Moral Animal; Three Scientists and their Gods, a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award; and Why Buddhism Is True. He is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of the widely respected Bloggingheads.tv and MeaningofLife.tv. He has written for the New Yorker, Atlantic, New York Times, Time, Slate, and the New Republic. He has taught at the University of Pennsylvania and at Princeton University, where he also created the popular online course “Buddhism and Modern Psychology.” He is a visiting professor of science and religion at Union Theological Seminary in New York.
Arthur Morey has won three AudioFile Magazine “Best Of” Awards, and his work has garnered numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards and placed him as a finalist for two Audie Awards. He has acted in a number of productions, both off Broadway in New York and off Loop in Chicago. He graduated from Harvard and did graduate work at the University of Chicago. He has won awards for his fiction and drama, worked as an editor with several book publishers, and taught literature and writing at Northwestern University. His plays and songs have been produced in New York, Chicago, and Milan, where he has also performed.
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