Breaking the Spell: Religion as a natural phenomenon by Daniel C. Dennett, Penguin, 2007, 464 ff.
A philosopher explores religion
By Howard A. Jones
Much of the first part of this book presents Dennett's justification for studying religion rationally and `scientifically' - this is the `spell' (of reverence) that he is aiming to break. Sir Alister Hardy F.R.S., the marine biologist, had a similar aim when he set up the Religious Experience Research Centre at Oxford University (now at University of Wales, Lampeter). Like the only other Dennett book I have read, "Consciousness Explained", Dennett's writings are like written meditations on a subject, explored from every angle that he can think of, in true philosophical style. They therefore demand concentrated reading to following the many twists and turns of argument.
The author makes the point that religion can hardly be said to have evolutionary survival value given the `costs in time, resources, pain and privation' quite apart from the genocides committed in the name of God. The fact that it has survived though space and time should be rationally investigated and its origins sought and explained, as proposed by the Scottish philosopher David Hume three centuries ago. Dennett attributes religion's success to human evolution in the sense of being perpetuated as a "meme" (Richard Dawkins, The Selfish Gene, Paladin, 1978, p.206) because it is socially useful. However, the author pays little regard to the metaphysical, psychological or even sociological aspects of religion: the treatment here is largely in terms of evolutionary biology.
He considers our love of music in a comparable light to our need for religion, how we would fare without it, and discusses the relation between religious art, language and music and their relative value in survival. He sees organised religion as having evolved from folk religion, just as formal music has evolved from folk music. Religion is part of the biology of evolution as we develop our higher senses and is therefore a natural phenomenon. It has survived because it is used as a source of moral values, it lessens fear of death, and provides a social milieu devoted to spiritual issues removed from everyday life, which may be unhappy or stressful: religion provides a spiritual retreat. However, Dennett rejects Durkheim's functionalism (that societies act in concert for mutual benefit) as applied to religion, just as Dawkins rejects Gaia (that systems of the Earth act cooperatively for their mutual benefit).
I found Pascal Boyer's "Religion Explained" a more balanced and more easily readable account of the same subject, and Dennett refers to Boyer's book, and to the classic by William James, The Varieties of Religious Experience, frequently. Overall though, the book is witty, informative and thought-provoking. There are extensive Notes, a detailed Bibliography of references and further reading, and an Index at the end of the book.
Dr Howard A. Jones is the author of The Thoughtful Guide to God (2006) and The Tao of Holism (2008), both published by O Books of Winchester, UK.
Religion Explained: The Human Instincts That Fashion Gods, Spirits and Ancestors
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