The Edge of Reason? Science and Religion in Modern Society

includes index and biblioraphy

Part I Should scientists challenge religious beliefs in modern society? 1 Science and religion- negotiating the 21st century rapids 15 Denis R. Alexander 2 Why new atheist definitions of religions fail 23 Mark Hulsether 3 Aboriginal versus Western Creationism 31 Robert Layton 4 Science versus anthropology, not religion 39 Simon Coleman 5 Atheism and liberty 47 Michael Shermer Part II Is religion inevitable? Prehistory and evolution 6 The evolution of warfare 57 Herbert D. G. Maschner and Katherine L Reedy-Maschner 7 Why we are good: Mirror neurons and the roots of empathy 65 Gordy Slack 8 The evolution of religion 73 Lewis Wolpert 9 Is religion inevitable? An archaeologist`s view from the past 82 Steven Mithen 10 Artificials, or why Darwin was wrong about humans 95 Timothy Taylor Part III Is religion harmful? From brains to societies 11 Brain science and belief 109 Andrew Newberg 12 Why Richard Dawkins is wrong about religion 119 David Sloan Wilson 13 Public terror versus public good 137 lan Reader 14 Buddhism: Is there better balance in the East? 145 Hiroko Kawanami Part IV Can science itself inspire spiritual wonder? Broader views 15 Can scientific discovery be a religious experience? 155 John Medley Brooke 16 Heavens above! Old notions never die. They just incorporate. 165 William Calvin 17 Other intelligences 176 Seth Shostak 18 Natural theology in contemporary cosmology 186 David Wilkinson