Theological incorrectness why religious people believe what they shouldn't - Slone, D. Jason (Oxford University Press, 2007)
Originally published: 2004
Includes bibliographical references (p. 127-151) and index
Introduction: Is God a Notre Dame Football Fan?; 1. Religion Is for Dummies and Romantics; 2. Religion Is What Your Parents Say; 3. Religion Is Perfectly Natural, Not Naturally Perfect; 4. Buddha Nature; 5. W.D.G.D.? (What Does God Do?); 6. I'd Rather Be Lucky Than Good; Conclusion: Religion Rethought; Bibliography; Index
Why do religious people believe what they shouldn't -- not what others think they shouldn't believe, but things that don't accord with their own avowed religious beliefs? D. Jason Slone terms this phenomenon "theological incorrectness." He argues that it exists because the mind is built in such a way that it's natural for us to think divergent thoughts simultaneously. Human minds are great at coming up with innovative ideas that help them make sense of the world, he says, but those ideas do not always jibe with official religious beliefs. From this fact we derive the important lesson