{"product_id":"supernatural-selection-how-religion-evolved-9780195385816","title":"Supernatural Selection: How Religion Evolved","description":"In 2006, scientist Richard Dawkins published a blockbuster bestseller, \u003cem\u003eThe God Delusion\u003c\/em\u003e. This atheist manifesto sparked a furious reaction from believers, who have responded with numerous books of their own. By pitting science against religion, however, this debate overlooks what science can\u003cbr\u003etell us about religion. According to evolutionary psychologist Matt J. Rossano, what science reveals is that religion made us human. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eSupernatural Selection\u003c\/em\u003e, Rossano presents an evolutionary history of religion. Neither an apologist for religion nor a religion-basher, he draws together evidence from a wide range of disciplines to show the valuable--even essential--adaptive purpose served by systematic belief in the\u003cbr\u003esupernatural. The roots of religion stretch as far back as half a million years, when our ancestors developed the motor control to engage in social rituals--that is, to sing and dance together. Then, about 70,000 years ago, a global ecological crisis drove humanity to the edge of extinction. It\u003cbr\u003eforced the survivors to create new strategies for survival, and religious rituals were foremost among them. Fundamentally, Rossano writes, religion is a way for humans to relate to each other and the world around them--and, in the grim struggles of prehistory, it offered significant survival and\u003cbr\u003ereproductive advantages. It emerged as our ancestors' first health care system, and a critical part of that health care system was social support. Religious groups tended to be far more cohesive, which gave them a competitive advantage over non-religious groups, and enabled them to conquer the\u003cbr\u003eglobe. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eRather than focusing on one aspect of religion, as many theorists do, Rossano offers an all-encompassing approach that is rich with surprises, insights, and provocative conclusions.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Matt Rossano\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Oxford University Press, USA\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 05\/28\/2010\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 304\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.25lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.30h x 6.00w x 1.10d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780195385816\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e 05\/17\/2010 pg. 44\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e 07\/01\/2010 pg. 86\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMatt Rossano \u003c\/strong\u003eis head of the Psychology Department at Southeastern Louisiana University. He is the author of \u003cem\u003eEvolutionary Psychology: The Science of Human Behavior and Evolution.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThis title is not returnable\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Oxford University Press, USA","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":39930776322163,"sku":"9.78E+12","price":47.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0555\/9255\/0515\/products\/img_45e940ac-1afe-486a-8d98-75e219b44346.jpg?v=1647699500","url":"https:\/\/bookstorenmore.com\/products\/supernatural-selection-how-religion-evolved-9780195385816","provider":"Bookstore N More","version":"1.0","type":"link"}