Rating: 
Summary: Somewhat Hard To Digest, Even For A Skeptic
Review: In this book, Shirmer shows an astonishing knowledge of skeptical books and writings over the ages, and of recent publications, too. In Appendix 2, he shows excellent knowledge of and use of mathematical statistical analysis as applied to the social sciences.I would highly reccomend reading Shermer's WHY PEOPLE BELIEVE WEIRD THINGS as a prequel to this book.
As a skeptic beforehand, I found parts of HOW WE BELIEVE to be rather hard to digest, and even tedious at times. Such is the case of the many pages on mythology, and how it developed in the human race, and how it developed into religion.
Sometimes, I guess that I have a taste for simple explanations of things. For example, how did ancient "prophets" and "wise men" receive the "word of God"? I would answer simply that they went out into the wilderness, fasted, and had hallucinations.
Shermer (a former Christian like me, who has become an agnostic), never says so directly, but he apparently believes that Jesus and Abraham were real historical characters. I think that the likelihood is high that they were fictious. In other words, and to use the word "myth" in a different sense than Shermer does, it is likely that Jesus was just as mythological as the other gods from Apollo to Zeus. The same is probably true about the other ancient religious leaders. As an example of how Shermer can be tedious about a topic, consider his several chapters in WHY PEOPLE BELIEVE WEIRD THINGS, where he confronts Holocaust disbelievers. I think that the simpler explanation of these people is words to the effect that "they have their heads buried in the sand". In HOW WE BELIEVE, I found Shermer's Chapter 10 on "Glorious Contingency" to be overdone and on shakey ground. I think that as a consequence of the nature of the physical universe, the forces restraining contingency are much stronger than Shermer does. Just how strong, I cannot know. Something that I do know is that one one planet, at least two (not just one) large-brained families of animals evolved. I think that dolphins are just as intelligent as humans, but they cannot have technology where they live. Overall, I give HOW WE BELIEVE three stars, but WHY PEOPLE BELIEVE WEIRD THINGS, five stars.
Rating: 
Summary: Kudos for Shermer
Review: I have just been introduced to Shermer's work. I think he is a beaon for clear and critical thinking. We need more like him in this world ruled by religious bigotry and irrationalism.
Rating:
Summary: Two books in one...and both them very thought provoking
Review: This is one of those excellent examples of getting something extra in the bargain.
For, when one buys this book, not only do they get a very thorough treatment of the psychological, social and historical factors which incline humans toward religion but they also get Mr. Shermer's own unique take on the matter in the form of his chapter 10 which suggests that we accept the miracle of humanity's chance existence and our own by trying to make the best of it.
If you expect by skepticism, either a cynical distance or dispassion, you will find yourself pleasantly surprised with Mr. Shermer's genuine command of the multiple disciplines he must - of needs - rely upon in building his thesis that religion is the simple byproduct of human behavior and history.
The most notable characteristic about these books is usually the invariable Rorshach quality in which the author reveals himself in his views on religion and the almighty. To the careful observer sometimes one can even see the seeds of childhood disfunction in the author's projected worldview.
Again fortunately, such is not the case here where Shermer not shows an appreciation for the outside view of religion but rather also its own subtle capacity to beauty and inspiration. Indeed, this subtle beauty informs Mr. Shermer's world view.
Don't get me wrong, if you begin this book from the vantage point of one religious world view, I would offer that that's where you'll end up. That being said, you'll arrive there a little better informed.
Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Review: In the Preface, which is titled "The God Question. A MoralDilemma for Dr. Laura", he talks about how Skeptic magazine usedto get letters from people complaining that DL was on the editorialboard. He then talks about the fact that skeptics could care less about what a person's faith is, UNLESS that person begins telling others that their faith can be proven with facts, then the skeptic will challenge them to do so through rational arguments and empirical evidence. He gives a short synopsis of how DL came to be on the board (she was invited due to her outspokeness on the failed recovered-memory movement), and how she asked to be immediately removed after a Skeptic issue about "The God Question." Shermer called her to see what's up, and she basically said that anyone (past or present) who questions God is "arrogant." And after more discussion she told him there is only ONE God--the God of Abraham. From here he leaves her behind (with her own 'arrogance') and gets into what the book is about which he outlines as: "(1) Why people believe in God; (2) the relationship of science and religion, reason and faith; and (3) how the search for the sacred came into being and how it can thrive in and age of science." He notes at the end of the preface that skeptics use the stance that was so eloquently put by Spinoza: "I have made a ceaseless effort not to ridicule, not to bewail, not to scorn human actions, but to understand them." Such a stark contrast to the dispassionate stance of DL. I suppose DL would throw Spinoza into her vague, catch-all conspiracy theory about 'liberals'. This also-faith of hers about 'agendas', 'conspiracies', 'indoctrinations', 'pseudo-religions', etc., are therefore demanded by the skeptical position to be proven rationally and empirically, because she is saying they are facts. She hasn't provided any credible evidence, and probably never will, i.e. she'll never put up nor will she shut up. Anyway, the rest of the book is for those who seek to understand, and it succeeds amazingly.
Rating: 
Summary: Does This Book Really Answer The Question
Review: To me the title of this book suggested a treatise essentially on the psychology of belief systems. Indeed we are presented with quite interesting material in this regard. Mr. Schermer uses the fields of psychology, evolutionary biology, sociology, philosophy, and anthropology, amongst others, to help explain belief systems. While I found that almost all the book held my interest, it seemed somewhat disjointed. Some of the material is also quite controversial. While such matters only serve to entertain me, others may get offended - Christians may take umbrage at having their beliefs repeatedly referred to as "myths". The book presents intriguing survey results on why people believe in God. What is most fascinating is that respondents felt that other people believe in God for reasons that differ considerably from their own. Shermer moves on into a discussion of evolutionary biology and a "belief module" (more controversy). Then, surprisingly, we move into a section concerned with traditional philosophical arguments (primarily those of Thomas Aquinas) for belief in God. When you get right down to it, no one embraces religious belief purely on the basis of philosophical arguments. Creationists will be offended by a section on their beliefs. A chunk of the book is given to the Indian Ghost Dance of the 1890s, and we read a discussion on a mathematical refutation of the recent best seller The Bible Code. Good stuff, but its like reading a collection of essays that are not often obviously related to each other. The final chapter had me scratching my head the most. It's a section discussing the controversy surrounding Stephen Jay Gould's theories of evolution regarding necessity/contingency/chance. While poring through this I kept wondering what it had to do with religion. My question was never answered satisfactorily. Shermer forces this subject into a paean to the wonders of living in a contingent universe. He states that his abandonment of religion allows him to bask in the beauty of our magnificent universe. I get annoyed with concept that if you are religious you can't appreciate science and nature. Not every religious believer is constrained by fundamentalist young earth/intelligent design theories. I am an agnostic who was brought up a Catholic. My intense curiosity and admiration of nature was as strong when I was a believer as it is as a non-believer today.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent analysis of a puzzling topic
Review: Why people believe in the things they believe has always interested me. Shermer, who is the head of the Skeptics Society, takes a deep look into questions of "faith" and reason, and discovers answers that may surprise you. Personally, I found this book both lucid and elegantly written... almost reminded me of Sagan. (And that is a huge complement coming from me.) While Shermer treads lightly on religion, his message remains clear. I highly recommend this book to anybody who either has an open mind, or wants one.
Rating: 
Summary: Really disappointing.
Review: I'm a great fan of Shermer's "Why People Believe Weird Things," so it's disheartening to have to review this book negatively. Sometimes the tone is . . . genuflectional? He does address truly novel ideas, citing Tooby & Cosmides and others, for evolutionary hypotheses for the universality of religious belief, but no unified view emerges in the book. Also, there is a completely superfluous chapter defending Stephen Gould, whom he declares as his "friend" at the beginning of the book, which reveals a probable bias: Gould hates adaptive/evolutionary points of view on social matters. No wonder Shermer drops the issue like a hot potato in this book.
Rating:
Summary: One hell of a good book
Review: Simply marvelous. Absolutely engrossing. Written with a passion and perspicacity rarely seen even among thinkers of Shermer's caliber. In short, a damned fine read that everyone ought to peruse forthwith! :) ALSO RECOMMENDED: Shermer's WHY PEOPLE BELIEVE WEIRD THINGS.
Rating: 
Summary: Discredited ideas
Review: In yet another tome that proves the intellectual bankruptcy of contemporary atheism, Shermer sets out to prove that all religions are psychological phenomena that ultimately teach the same things. He identifies common themes - like the apocalypse - in all religions, and equates these themes with psychological experiences. Wrong. Religion is not equivalent. Three interrelated faiths - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam - all deny each other's central doctrines. When we move out from the West, we see such diversity of religious beliefs that no common theme emerges. Religious experience ranges from animism (where you can be healed of your ailments by absorbing the soul of a bird) to certain types of Buddhism that don't even believe in a god. The idea of a common "religion" is simply false - especially when you realize that Atheistic philosophies like Communism and Nazism are fully-functional religions in their own right. Shermer's warmed-over Jungian approach is 100 years out of date.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliantly orchestrated social analysis
Review: This brilliantly orchestrated journey into the depths of human emotion and science are a joy for the beleiver and the skeptic. Dr. Shermer examines every facet of the sociological and psychological impact of people and their belief systems. To the keen reader, this book asks hard-hitting and provocative questions as to the nature and depths of those ideals we hold to be truth. While at the same time dissecting pseudo-sciences and archaic models for belief and rationality for what they truly have become: Dying paradigms in a critical thinkers world!! Books such as this have special places in the hearts of those who hold truth to be the ultimate goal of scientists, secularists and religious scholars. A can't miss piece of philosophical examination into the mind of the human animal, and a joy from beginning to end!!
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