The Edge of Reason?: Science and Religion in Modern Society

Contents......Page 6
Contributors......Page 10
Foreword......Page 18
Introduction......Page 26
Part I: Should scientists challenge religious beliefs in modern society?......Page 38
1 Science and religion - negotiating the 21[sup(st)] century rapids......Page 40
2 Why new atheist definitions of religions fail......Page 48
3 Aboriginal versus Western Creationism......Page 56
4 Science versus anthropology, not religion......Page 64
5 Atheism and liberty......Page 72
Part II: Is religion inevitable? Prehistory and evolution......Page 80
6 The evolution of warfare......Page 82
7 Why we are good: Mirror neurons and the roots of empathy......Page 90
8 The evolution of religion......Page 98
9 Is religion inevitable? An archaeologist’s view from the past......Page 107
10 Artificials, or why Darwin was wrong about humans......Page 120
Part III: Is religion harmful? From brains to societies......Page 132
11 Brain science and belief......Page 134
12 Why Richard Dawkins is wrong about religion......Page 144
13 Public terror versus public good......Page 162
14 Buddhism: Is there better balance in the East?......Page 170
Part IV: Can science itself inspire spiritual wonder? Broader views......Page 178
15 Can scientific discovery be a religious experience?......Page 180
16 Heavens above! Old notions never die.They just incorporate.......Page 190
17 Other intelligences......Page 201
18 Natural theology in contemporary cosmology......Page 211
Epilogue: Science and religion, not science or religion......Page 218
Notes......Page 221
A......Page 236
B......Page 237
C......Page 238
D......Page 239
F......Page 240
I......Page 241
M......Page 242
N......Page 243
R......Page 244
S......Page 245
T......Page 246
Z......Page 247