WIRED FOR GOD?: THE BIOLOGY OF SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE

Book ID/图书代码： 06400310B36548

English Summary/英文概要： Human religious experiences are remarkably uniform; many can be pharmacologically induced. Recent research into the neurology of religious experience has shown that, when worshipping or praying, a certain part of the brain, apparently dormant during other activities, becomes active. What does all this mean for those of faith and those with none? In this fascinating book barrister Charles Foster takes a survey of the evidence -- from shamans to medieval mystics, to out-of-body experiences and epilepsy, via Jerusalem and middle-class Christianity -- and assesses its significance. Written in short, accessible chapters, this is a fascinating tour of religious and mystical experiences and their relation to human physiology.

Chinese Summary/中文概要： 形形色色的宗教体验虽然形式众多，但它们却无一不拥有惊人的相似之处：因为许多的宗教仪式及活动都可以给人们带来近似于药理的效果。有关宗教体验对于人类神经方面所产生的影响，新近的研究表明，当我们在进行膜拜以及祈祷等宗教活动时，大脑的某些区域会处于异常兴奋的状态，而在通常情况下，这块部分几乎接近于睡眠状态的状态。
这项发现，对于广大的信徒以及无宗教信仰者来说，究竟意味着什么?
在本书中，作者福斯特高亢且清晰地为我们诠释了人们生活当中的种种宗教体验，观点犀利、见解独到；有关于药物、梦境、宗教体验以及灵魂的存在，即使你可以在这些议题上始终保留着自己的观点，但本书无疑将会在观后引起读者强烈的反响；全文严谨却又不失诙谐，以通俗易懂、雅俗共赏的方式帮助我们重新审视宗教神学与人体生理之间错综复杂的纽带关系。(AW)

Awards/获奖情况：’I have enjoyed an extended argument with this book. Foster’s passion and clarity help focus on the key issues concerning the nature of religious feeling in human life, demanding a quality of response from the reader that matches his own high standard of thought and exposition.’ -- Professor Chris Gosden, School of Archaeology, University of Oxford ’A look at the ultimately important questions of life that is itself wonderfully alive: you may not agree, but you will never be bored’. -- Iain McGilchrist 20091030 ’In this tour of the weird and wacky in religion and spirituality, Charles Foster displays his gift for making science accessible and philosophy entertaining. He will amuse and irritate religious believers and non-believers in turn but won’t let either group stray too far from the evidence. You may not agree with all of Foster’s answers, but he is certainly asking good questions.’ -- Justin Barrett 20091030 ’Foster takes us on a most enjoyable journey through the drugs, dreams and profound experiences that lead people to believe in the existence of souls. Although I disagree profoundly with his conclusions Foster’s exploration of why we are so incurably religious is both serious and entertaining.’ -- Professor Susan Blackmore, author of Consciousness: An introduction 20091030 ’Thoroughly researched and very well written...interesting, stimulating and challenging.’ -- Third Way 20100817

About the Author/作者介绍： 作者查尔斯·福斯特，职业是作家、律师、牛津大学法律医学伦理课导师，同时还兼职刑事及民事法庭法官。他曾于剑桥大学攻读动物法律医学专业，并先后参与三十多本专业书籍的著撰、编辑工作。福斯特近期的两部作品为《耶稣审判》（对于耶稣复活的事实性展开深入研究），及《探寻圣约柜》。众多刊物之上都可看到查尔斯的撰文。
Charles Foster is a writer, barrister and tutor in Medical Law and Ethics at the University of Oxford and sits as a part-time judge in the criminal and civil courts. He read veterinary medicine and law at the University of Cambridge and has written, edited or contributed to thirty books. His most recent book is THE SELFLESS GENE, which explores the creationism/evolution debate. He writes regularly for many publications.

Format:电子手稿

Rights Status/版权销售情况：Simplified Chinese/简体中文：AVAILABLE

Complex/Traditional Chinese/繁体中文：AVAILABLE

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