The Belief Instinct

“[Bering] approaches these dicey subjects with a dazzlingly insightful reading of the empirical literature on human cognition and development, a sly sense of humor, and an obvious compassion for those who do not share his beliefs. He also has a lot of fun. Richard Dawkins and others have surveyed some of this terrain before, but few have done it as convincingly and enjoyably.” –Choice Reviews, American Library Association (Top 25 Books of 2011)

“Laced with interesting psychological and anthropological research and provocative arguments. [Bering’s] story-telling ability, sense of humor and self-deprecating style make the more scholarly sections easy to digest and a pleasure to engage. Although the book seems to be aimed at an intelligent, reading public, it certainly will be of interest to philosophers, psychologists and sociologists of religion, in addition to other academicians who are interested in religious belief and our preoccupation with the problem of evil and the meaning of life.” – Metapsychology Online Reviews

“Blending empirical evidence from seminal research with literary allusions and cultural critique, Bering examines the central tenets of spirituality, from life’s purpose to the notion of an afterlife, in a sociotheological context underlined by the rigor of a serious scientist.” – The Atlantic (The 11 Best Psychology Books of 2011)

“Bering‘s contribution to answering the question [of God] is worthy of consideration by any thinking person.” –The Scientist (Magazine of the Life Sciences)

“An interesting and pleasurable book to read, mainly because it throws up demanding challenges. It may never achieve the notoriety of The God Delusion but its fundamental approach took me from Professor Dawkins’s cliché-ridden arguments into more original territory.” –The Catholic Herald

“Bering’s writing is accessible, even humorous … [he’s] methodically scientific in building his argument. The Belief Instinct is an engaging and insightful inquiry into our tendency to believe in God.” –About.com

“A powerful new hypothesis for the nature, origin and cognitive function of spirituality. Far from merely regurgitating existing thinking on the topic, [Bering] connects dots across different disciplines, ideologies and materials … Eloquently argued and engagingly written.” —Maria Popova, Brain Pickings

“At once marvelously informative and endlessly infuriating … an uncommonly compelling case for the self-loathing of humanity.” –The New Republic

“Is the idea of God an invention maliciously hammered into the heads of the innocent young, or is it innate? Bering, an evolutionary psychologist, thinks the latter. Theism stems, he writes, from a cluster of brain adaptations that lead to cognitive biases and illusions. God, in sum, is a ‘sort of scratch on our psychological lenses’, hard to get rid of completely. Disarmingly, Bering tells stories of his own superstitious moments, and references to Sartre and Gide add a patina of literary class.” –The Guardian

“A colourful romp through psychology, philosophy and popular culture.” –New Humanist

“Psychologist Jesse Bering argues that religious beliefs are a sophisticated cognitive illusion rather than an irrational delusion. Because we have the ability to think beyond our immediate surroundings, we have evolved a tendency to project the idea that a transcendent being, or god, influences our lives. Taking a balanced and considered approach to this often inflammatory topic, he explains why this religious trait has evolutionary benefits and why it sets us apart from other animals.” –Nature

“[Bering’s] writing is witty, crammed with pop-culture references, and he employs examples and analogies that make his arguments seem like common sense rather than the hard-earned scientific insights they really are. This fascinating book presents gentle, nuanced but convincing arguments for atheism.” –The New Scientist

“While there is an endless stream of polemics on the existence of God, we don’t often read about the psychology of religion. Mixing recent scientific research with literary criticism, Jesse Bering argues for the neurological basis of religious belief.” –New Statesman Recommended Read

“There’s a place in our minds where God goes. This spellbinding book explains how: We humans find the idea of God inviting because we evolved to perceive minds all around us. Bering’s own clever research on children’s perceptions of the supernatural is the centerpiece in his rich portrayal of the newly unfolding science of belief in God.” –Daniel M. Wegner, Harvard University, author of The Illusion of Conscious Will

“Since God didn’t exist, our human ancestors found it necessary to invent him. In this scintillating book, Jesse Bering explains, with characteristic wit and wisdom, how, in the course of human evolution, God returned the compliment — by helping individuals, despite themselves, lead better lives.” –Nicholas Humphrey, Emeritus Professor London School of Economics, author of Soul Dust

“Jesse Bering is a brilliant young psychologist, a gifted storyteller, a careful reader of Jean-Paul Sartre, and a very funny man. And his first book, The Belief Instinct, is a triumph — a moving, provocative, and entertaining exploration of the human search for meaning.” –Paul Bloom Professor of Psychology, Yale University, author of How Pleasure Works