Why God? ─ Explaining Religious Phenomena

In the last century, some professional “theorists,” and large chunks of the culture with them, have begun to claim that religion boils down to no more than society’s self-worship, self-delusion, and desire to control others. But in Why God?, renowned sociologist of religion Rodney Stark reveals the complete lack of evidence behind these popular “theories.” Drawing from a fascinating array of historical data, he offers a compelling argument showing why almost all people, in all places and all times, have been religious—and why, contra these “theorists,” you can’t explain religion without god.
Each chapter of Why God? adds to Stark’s definitive explanation of religion, clearing the path for new understandings of core elements of religious life and history, such as the origins of monotheism, the implications of sin, the rise and spread of religious movements, and the function of revelations in the world today.
Why God? is a much needed guide for anyone who wants a thorough understanding of religion, as well as a firm refuta­tion to those who think religion is just a deceitful ruse that can exist without true devotion to a god.

Rodney Stark is the distinguished professor of the social sciences and codirector of the Institute for Studies of Religion at Baylor University. He also is an honorary professor of sociology at Peking University in Beijing, China. He was previously professor of sociology and of comparative religion at the University of Washington, and a research sociologist at the University of California, Berkeley. His PhD is from UC, Berkeley. Many of his previous books have won national and international awards, and many have been translated into a total of seventeen foreign languages.
Rodney Stark is the distinguished professor of the social sciences and codirector of the Institute for Studies of Religion at Baylor University. He also is an honorary professor of sociology at Peking University in Beijing, China. He was previously professor of sociology and of comparative religion at the University of Washington, and a research sociologist at the University of California, Berkeley. His PhD is from UC, Berkeley. Many of his previous books have won national and international awards, and many have been translated into a total of seventeen foreign languages.