richard_dawkins_-_the_god_delusion

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350 THE GOD DELUSIONfriends - and imaginary gods - have the time and patience to devoteall their attention to the sufferer. And they are much cheaper thanpsychiatrists or professional counsellors.Did gods, in their role as consolers and counsellors, evolve frombinkers, by a sort of psychological 'paedomorphosis'? Paedomorphosisis the retention into adulthood of childhoodcharacteristics. Pekinese dogs have paedomorphic faces: the adultslook like puppies. It is a well-known pattern in evolution, widelyaccepted as important for the development of such humancharacteristics as our bulbous forehead and short jaws.Evolutionists have described us as juvenile apes, and it is certainlytrue that juvenile chimpanzees and gorillas look more like humansthan adult ones do. Could religions have evolved originally bygradual postponement, over generations, of the moment in lifewhen children gave up their binkers - just as we slowed down,during evolution, the flattening of our foreheads and the protrusionof our jaws?I suppose, for completeness, we should consider the reverse possibility.Rather than gods evolving from ancestral binkers, couldbinkers have evolved from ancestral gods? This seems to me lesslikely. I was led to think about it while reading the American psychologistJulian Jaynes's The Origin of Consciousness in theBreakdown of the Bicameral Mind, a book that is as strange as itstitle suggests. It is one of those books that is either complete rubbishor a work of consummate genius, nothing in between!Probably the former, but I'm hedging my bets.Jaynes notes that many people perceive their own thoughtprocesses as a kind of dialogue between the 'self and anotherinternal protagonist inside the head. Nowadays we understand thatboth 'voices' are our own - or if we don't we are treated as mentallyill. This happened, briefly, to Evelyn Waugh. Never one to mincewords, Waugh remarked to a friend: T haven't seen you for a longtime, but then I've seen so few people because - did you know? -1went mad.' After his recovery, Waugh wrote a novel, The Ordeal ofGilbert Pinfold, which described his hallucinatory period, and thevoices that he heard.Jaynes's suggestion is that some time before 1000 BC people ingeneral were unaware that the second voice - the Gilbert
A MUCH NEEDED GAP ? 351Pinfold voice - came from within themselves. They thoughtthe Pinfold voice was a god: Apollo, say, or Astarte or Yahweh or,more probably, a minor household god, offering them advice ororders. Jaynes even located the voices of the gods in the oppositehemisphere of the brain from the one that controls audiblespeech. The 'breakdown of the bicameral' mind was, for Jaynes, ahistorical transition. It was the moment in history when it dawnedon people that the external voices that they seemed to be hearingwere really internal. Jaynes even goes so far as to define thishistorical transition as the dawning of human consciousness.There is an ancient Egyptian inscription about the creator godPtah, which describes the various other gods as variations of Ptah's'voice' or 'tongue'. Modern translations reject the literal 'voice' andinterpret the other gods as 'objectified conceptions of [Ptah's]mind'. Jaynes dismisses such educated readings, preferring to takethe literal meaning seriously. The gods were hallucinated voices,speaking inside people's heads. Jaynes further suggests that suchgods evolved from memories of dead kings, who still, in a mannerof speaking, retained control over their subjects via imagined voicesin their heads. Whether or not you find his thesis plausible, Jaynes'sbook is intriguing enough to earn its mention in a book on religion.Now, to the possibility I raised of borrowing from Jaynes toconstruct a theory that gods and binkers are developmentallyrelated, but the opposite way around from the paedomorphosistheory. It amounts to the suggestion that the breakdown of thebicameral mind didn't happen suddenly in history, but was a progressivepulling back into childhood of the moment whenhallucinated voices and apparitions were rumbled as not real. In akind of reversal of the paedomorphosis hypothesis, the hallucinatedgods disappeared from adult minds first, then were pulled backearlier and earlier into childhood, until today they survive only inthe Binker or little purple man phenomenon. The problem with thisversion of the theory is that it doesn't explain the persistence ofgods into adulthood today.It might be better not to treat gods as ancestral to binkers, orvice versa, but rather to see both as by-products of the samepsychological predisposition. Gods and binkers have in commonthe power to comfort, and provide a vivid sounding board for
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Also by Richard DawkinsThe Selfish
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TRANSWORLD PUBLISHERS61-63 Uxbridge
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ContentsPrefaceChapter 1Chapter 2Ch
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Tread softly, because you tread onm
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PrefaceAs a child, my wife hated he
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PREFACE 3If you feel trapped in the
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PREFACE 5herding cats, because they
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PREFACE 7Free Inquiry, especially,
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A D E E P L Y R E L I G I O U S N O
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A DEEPLY RELIGIOUS N O N - B E L I
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A D E E PLY R E L I G I O U S N O N
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A D E E P L Y RE L 1 G I O U S N O
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A DEEPLY R E L I G I O U S N O N -
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THE GOD HYPOTHESIS 31The God of the
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T H E G O D H Y P O T II E S I S 33
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T II E G O D H Y P O T H E S 1 S 35
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T H E G O D H Y P O T H E S I S 37M
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THE GOD HYPOTHESIS 39although it ha
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THE GOD HYPOTHESIS 41enterprise. Ri
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THE GOD HYPOTHESIS 43God; because,
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THE GOD HYPOTHESIS 45Anecdotes of s
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THE GOD HYPOTHESIS 47Carl Sagan was
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THE GOD HYPOTHESIS 49Huxley was not
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T H E G O D H Y P O T H E SIS 51can
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T H E G O D H Y P O T H E SIS 53in
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THE GOD HYPOTHESIS 55McGrath goes o
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THE GOD HYPOTHESIS 57the Cambridge
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THE GOD HYPOTHESIS 59unequivocally
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THE GOD HYPOTHESIS 61non-interventi
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T H E G O D H Y P O T H E S I S 63s
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THE GOD HYPOTHESIS 65Another typica
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T H E G O D H Y P O THESIS 67NOMA -
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T H E G O D II Y P O T H E S I S 69
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THE GOD HYPOTHESIS 71longer based o
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THE GOD HYPOTHESIS 73advanced techn
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A R G U M E N T S F O R G O D ' S E
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A R G U M ENTS F O R G O D ' S E X
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ARGUMENTS F O R GOD'S E X I S T E N
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A R C U M E N T S F O R G O D ' S E
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A R G U M E N T S FOR G O D ' S E X
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ARGUMEN T S FOR GOD'S EXISTENCE 101
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A R G U M E N T S F O R G OD'S E X
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A R Ci U M E N T S F O R G O D ' S
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ARGUMENTS F O R G OD'S E X I S T E
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W H Y T II E R E A L M O S T C E R
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W H Y T H E R E A I. M O S T C E R
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W H Y T H ERE AL.MOS T C E R TAINL.
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W H Y T H f ' R i . A L M O S T C 1
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W H Y T l i l - I U ; A L M O S T C
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W H Y r i-i r R r A I M O S T C t R
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W H Y '11IKRK A L M O S T (.: F R T
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no evidence of its own, but thrives
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W H Y r H E RE A 1. M O S T C F.RTA
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I ! T R t AI.M15S I' ('. I R !' A f
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W H Y T H E R E A I . M O S T C H R
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A I. M O S I C 1 R I'A I N M is X <
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W i I Y 1 II F. R F A 1 Vi (.) S T
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W H Y r 11 r u r -\ i. \i o s r c r
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W 11 Y '1 11 !•; R I. A I VI () S
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!' R I ALMOST l' I U '[ A I \ I Y i
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W H Y T H !• R E A I. M O S "I" C
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extravagant God hypothesis and the
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W H Y T H K R K A L VI O S I C E R
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W H Y T H H R B A L M O S T C E R T
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WHY T H E R K A L. M O S T C R R T
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W H V T H t R t A I M O S T C E R T
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WHY THERE ALMOST CERTAINLY IS NO GO
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W H Y T H E R i ; A L M O S T C E R
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T H E R O O T S OF R K 1. i G I ()
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THE ROOTS OF RELIGION 165themselves
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THE ROOTS ()1 ; R fc L I G I O N 16
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T H 1-; R O O T S O F R E I 1 C 1 O
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T H E R O O T S OF R E L I G I O N
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T H I', R O () T S OF R K I. I G I
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THL R O O T S OF R E L I G I O N 17
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T H E R O O T S OF R I: I. I (i I O
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T 11 E R O O T S O F R K L 1 (. 1 O
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THE ROOTS OF RELIGION 181psychologi
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THE R O O T S O F R E L I G I O N 1
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THE R O O T S O F RELIGI O N 185boo
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T H E ROOTS OF RELIGION 187Breakfas
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T H E R O O T S O F R E L I G 1 0 N
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T H E R O O T S O F R E L \ G I O N
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T H E ROOTS OF RELIGION 193the prob
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T H E R O O T S O F R E L I G I O N
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T H E R O O T S OF RELIGION 197'mem
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T HE ROOTS OF RELIGION 199ambiguity
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T H E R O O T S OF R E L I G I O N
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T H E ROOTS OF RELI G I O N 203They
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T HE R O O T S O F R E L J G 1 O N
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T H E R O O T S O F R E L 1 G I O N
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THE R O O T S OF M O R A L I T Y :
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T H E R O O T S OF M O R A L ! T Y
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T H H R O O T S O F M O R A L I T Y
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T H K R O O "I S O ! ; M O R A M T
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T H F , R O O T S O F M O R A L I T
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\ I i') K A I I M : \V 1 ! \ A i d
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R (> O I S (i I Y1 O l< A I I I "I
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R O t ' i l s O F M d l t A I I'I'V
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K O O I S O! M O R A I . I H : «
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K O O I S O I V! (> R A 1 1 T Y : W
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1K O O I \ < ) i VI O K A I . i l >
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HO I s o r M (.> R A ! I ! Y : \\ I
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O O K \ \ i> 'Mil Xi I'H ,\ j / J.
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T H E ' G O O D ' B O O K A N D T H
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H E ' G O O D " B O O K A N D T H E
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THE ' G O O D ' B O O K AND T H E M
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T H E ' G O O D ' B O () K A N D T
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T H E ' G O I H ) ' B O O K AN l> T
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T H E ' G O O D ' BO O K A N D T H
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' ! I K ' G O O 1) ' B O O K A N I"
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T H E - G O O D ' B O O K A N D T H
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T H i : ' G O O IV Si O O K A N D T
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TII 1- ' G O O D ' B O O K A N D T
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F i l l • ( . O O D ' B O O K A N
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T H |{ • (. O O D ' B O O K A N D
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HI-: ' G O O D ' B O O K A N D T H
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T H I: ' G O O D ' BO O K A N D T H
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1 M I. • C; O () I) ' B O O K A N
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T H E ' G () O I) ' B O O K A N D T
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G O O I") ' B O O K A N D T 1 i I ,
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T H E ' G O O D " B O O K A N D T H
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T III ' (, () O D ' H O () K A X D
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T H H ' G O () D ' B O O K A N D T
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CHAPTER 8What's wrong withreligion?
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282 THE GOD DELUSIONbomb anybody, b
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284 THE GOD DELUSIONof the lecture,
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286 THE GOD DELUSIONof the church i
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288 T H E GOD D E L U S I O Nmentio
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290 THE GOD DELUSIONpeople is their
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292 T H E GOD D ELUSIONdoing his du
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294 THE GOD DELUSIONconsequentialis
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296 THE GOD DELUSIONliving in Brita
Page 292 and 293: 298 THE GOD DELUSIONSecular moralis
Page 294 and 295: 300 THE GOD DELUSIONof religious up
Page 296 and 297: 302 THE GOD DELUSIONTaliban of Afgh
Page 298 and 299: 304 T H E G O D D ELUSIO Nhimself.
Page 300 and 301: 306 THE GOD DELUSIO Nbelieve what t
Page 302 and 303: 308 T H E G O D DEL U S I O Nthat f
Page 304 and 305: C H I L D H O O D , ABUSE AND R E L
Page 306 and 307: CHILDHOOD, ABUSE AND RELIGION 313at
Page 308 and 309: CHILDHOOD, ABUSE AND RELIGION 315Ed
Page 314 and 315: CHILDHOOD, ABUSE AND RELIGION 321to
Page 318 and 319: CHILDHOOD, ABUSE AND RELIGION 325be
Page 322 and 323: C H I L D H O O D , ABUSE AND RELIG
Page 326 and 327: CHILDHOOD, ABUSE AND RELIGION 333.t
Page 328 and 329: C H I L D H O O D , A B U S E A N D
Page 330 and 331: CHILDHOOD, ABUSE AND RELIGION 337th
Page 332 and 333: CHILDHOOD, ABUSE AND RELIGION 339He
Page 334 and 335: CHILDHOOD, ABUSE AND RELIGION 341de
Page 338 and 339: CHAPTER 10A much neededgap?What can
Page 340 and 341: 348 THE GOD DELUSIONBinker - what I
Page 344 and 345: 352 T H E GOD DELUSIONtrying out id
Page 346 and 347: 354 THE GOD DELUSIONconsoled by the
Page 348 and 349: 356 T HE GOD DELUSIONdoctor's lie r
Page 350 and 351: 358 THE GOD DELUSIONare most afraid
Page 352 and 353: 360 THE GOD. DELUSIONevidence for t
Page 354 and 355: 362 THE GOD DELUSIONpowerful enough
Page 356 and 357: 364 THE GOD DELUSIONthe way matter
Page 358 and 359: 366 THEGODDELUSIONmathematics work,
Page 360 and 361: 368 THE GOD DELUSIONcould safely be
Page 362 and 363: 370 T H E GOD DELUSIONand that limi
Page 364 and 365: 372 THE GOD DELUSIONof simulating a
Page 366 and 367: 374 T H E G O D DEL U S I O Nagains
Page 368 and 369: 376 T H E G O D D E L U S I O NAfri
Page 370 and 371: 378 THEGODDELUSIONNational Secular
Page 372 and 373: Books cited orrecommendedAdams, D.
Page 374 and 375: 382 THE GOD DELUSIONDennett, D. C.
Page 376 and 377: 384 T HE GOD DELUSIO NHodder &c Sto
Page 378 and 379: 386 THE GOD D E I, US1ONShermer, M.
Page 380 and 381: NotesPreface1 Wendy Kaminer, 'The l
Page 382 and 383: 390 T HE GO D D E L U S I O N34 Hen
Page 384 and 385: 392 THE GOD DELUSION64 This account
Page 386 and 387: 394 THE GOD DELUSIONChapter 7: The
Page 388 and 389: 396 THE GOD DELUSIONThe dark side o
Page 390 and 391: 398 THE GOD DELUSION146 Guardian, 1
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IndexA for Andromeda (Hoyle), 72Aar
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402 T H E GOD D E L U S I O NDonne,
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404 T H E G O D D E L U S I O NLinc
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406 T HE GOD DEL U SIGN'skyhooks',
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