{"product_id":"an-atheists-history-of-belief-understanding-our-most-extraordinary-invention-9781619024694","title":"An Atheist's History of Belief: Understanding Our Most Extraordinary Invention","description":"\u003ch2\u003eAn Atheist's History of Belief: Understanding Our Most Extraordinary Invention\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMatthew Kneale, the Man Booker shortlisted author of \u003ci\u003eEnglish Passengers\u003c\/i\u003e, delivers a comprehensive exploration of humanity's relationship with spirituality and religion. This paperback traces belief systems from prehistoric cave dwellers to contemporary movements, examining how faith has shaped civilizations across millennia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eA Journey Through Religious Evolution\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhat compelled early humans, sheltering in deep caves, to first invoke the spirit realm? This book answers that question while documenting how belief has thrived through thousands of generations. From shamans and pharaohs to Aztec priests and Mayan rulers, from Jews and Buddhists to Christians and modern movements like Scientology, Kneale chronicles the continuous thread of human spirituality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOur gods have evolved alongside us, transforming as our dreams and nightmares shifted through time. This narrative encompasses human sacrifice, political upheaval, and bloody wars—all shaped by the belief systems that guided entire civilizations. Religion stands as humanity's most epic labor of invention, our closest companion throughout history, following mankind across continents and through every era.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMatthew Kneale\u003c\/b\u003e studied Modern History at Oxford University before spending a year in Japan, where he began writing short stories. His novel \u003ci\u003eEnglish Passengers\u003c\/i\u003e (2000) won the Whitbread Award and earned a Man Booker Prize shortlist nomination. He currently resides in Rome, bringing a global perspective to his historical analysis.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat Makes This Book Distinctive\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis atheist's perspective offers a poetic yet analytical synopsis of religious history, examining belief systems without theological bias. The book provides context for understanding how spirituality developed, mutated, and influenced human civilization. It serves as both a historical document and a philosophical exploration of humanity's most enduring creation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePublished in February 2015 by Counterpoint LLC, this paperback edition makes Kneale's insights accessible to readers interested in religious history, social history, and world religions. The comprehensive scope covers multiple faiths and movements, providing a secular examination of belief's role in shaping human society.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Counterpoint LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50681383518482,"sku":"9781619024694","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_f0d3e1ae-4d06-4299-be5c-e37ef344e67d.jpg?v=1733952691","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/an-atheists-history-of-belief-understanding-our-most-extraordinary-invention-9781619024694","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}