The "God" Part of the Brain: A Scientific Interpretation of Human Spirituality and God

Matthew Alper

Sep 2008 · Sourcebooks, Inc.

About this ebook

A thought-provoking study of science and religion about our human need to believe in a higher power, for spiritual seekers and atheists alike.

In The God Part of the Brain, Matthew Alper pioneers a radical theory: the human inclination toward spirituality and belief in a higher power can be attributed to a specific part of our brain. This bold hypothesis takes us on an exciting journey that merges science, philosophy, and spirituality in a unique way.

Alper engages readers with compelling arguments based on neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and anthropology, provoking profound thought on the nature of existence and our inherent need for spiritual meaning as a coping mechanism that emerged in humans to help us survive our unique and otherwise debilitating awareness of death. His narrative is accessible yet deeply profound, providing insights that stimulate both intellectual curiosity and spiritual introspection.

Key Features:

• Groundbreaking Hypothesis: Presents a bold new theory about the neuroscientific basis of human spirituality.
• Interdisciplinary Approach: Combines insights from neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and anthropology to explore spiritual experiences.
• Intellectually Stimulating: Challenges readers to contemplate profound questions about existence, faith, and the human mind.
• Accessible Narrative: Engages readers with a narrative that is both informative and accessible, regardless of their scientific background.
• Provocative and Thoughtful: Invites deep introspection about our inherent need for spiritual meaning.

Praise for The "God" Part of the Brain

"This cult classic in many ways parallels Rene Descartes' search for reliable and certain knowledge...Drawing on such disciplines as philosophy, psychology, and biology, Alper argues that belief in a spiritual realm is an evolutionary coping method that developed to help humankind deal with the fear of death...Highly recommended."— Library Journal

"I very much enjoyed the account of your spiritual journey and believe it would make excellent reading for every college student - the resultant residence-hall debates would be the best part of their education. It often occurs to me that if, against all odds, there is a judgmental God and heaven, it will come to pass that when the pearly gates open, those who had the valor to think for themselves will be escorted to the head of the line, garlanded, and given their own personal audience." — Edward O. Wilson, two-time Pulitzer Prize-Winner

"This is an essential book for those in search of a scientific understanding of man's spiritual nature. Matthew Alper navigates the reader through a labyrinth of intriguing questions and then offers undoubtedly clear answers that lead to a better understanding of our objective reality." — Elena Rusyn, MD, PhD; Gray Laboratory; Harvard Medical School

"What a wonderful book you have written. It was not only brilliant and provocative but also revolutionary in its approach to spirituality as an inherited trait."— Arnold Sadwin, MD, former chief of Neuropsychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania

"A lively manifesto...For the discipline's specific application to the matter at hand, I've seen nothing that matches the fury of The 'God' Part of the Brain, which perhaps explains why it's earned something of a cult following." — Salon.com

"All 6 billion plus inhabitants of Earth should be in possession of this book. Alper's tome should be placed in the sacred writings' section of libraries, bookstores, and dwellings throughout the world. Matthew Alper is the new Galileo...Immensely important...Defines in a clear and concise manner what each of us already knew but were afraid to admit and exclaim."— John Scoggins, PhD

"Vibrant ... vivacious. An entertaining and provocative introduction to speculations concerning the neural basis of spirituality."— Free Inquiry Magazine

Ratings and reviews

It's a grudge book, mostly. Getting even for being the bullied young atheist. Has to be, because arguing for atheism against the believers who don't realize they are prewired to be believers and so their belief doesn't count is well, silly. The ENTIRE book is an inadvertent scientific PROOF our pathetic species needs religion as a coping mechanism so the courteous thing to do is leave the believers be. If the author is concerned about the murderous rampages of zealots like 9/11 then he should INVENT a New Age religion that's all love and tolerance and inclusion plus, say, 108 virgins. Believers need to be motivated to believe.

A good review of the logical arguments for not believing in the supernatural. He doesn't provide any ground-breaking scientific evidence for a genetic predisposition to religious belief. Anyone who follows the literature is more apt to conclude that we will find a genetic predisposition to the creation of normative values and following them in association with other human beings in a social unit. That people can believe fanatically in almost any kind of ideology, not necessarily with a supernatural basis, show that the net of genetic predispositions for creating and following belief systems must be cast much wider. On the other hand, I have no doubt that scientific materialism will explain everything and that supernatural explanations for anything will be tossed in to the dustbin of history where they belong. Three stars for clear thinking. As good as anything Richard Dawkins or Sam Harris has written.

All of these books from atheists just suppress the truth of God

About the author

Matthew Alper (New York City) graduated from SUNY Stonybrook with a BA in philosophy. He has worked as an electrician in England, a photographer's assistant in New York, a fifth-grade and high school history teacher in Brooklyn, a truck smuggler in Africa, a tutor in the Philippines, and a screenwriter in Germany.