How We Believe: Science Skepticism and the Search for God

A new edition covering the latest scientific research on how the brain makes us believers or skepticsRecent polls report that 96 percent of Americans believe in God and 73 percent believe that angels regularly visit Earth. Why is this? Why despite the rise of science technology and secular education are people turning to religion in greater numbers than ever before? Why do people believe in God at all? These provocative questions lie at the heart of How We Believe an illuminating study of God faith and religion. Bestselling author Michael Shermer offers fresh and often startling insights into age-old questions including how and why humans put their faith in a higher power even in the face of scientific skepticism. Shermer has updated the book to explore the latest research and theories of psychiatrists neuroscientists epidemiologists and philosophers as well as the role of faith in our increasingly diverse modern world.Whether believers or nonbelievers we are all driven by the need to understand the universe and our place in it. How We Believe is a brilliant scientific tour of this ancient and mysterious desire.