People love origin stories and this is ours--a fascinating and accessible account of how Big
Gods helped us make the leap from hunter-gatherers to gigantic and religiously diverse
societies. But this book is not just about the past. Norenzayan gives us a nuanced account of
secularism and offers us some surprising tools we can use to create more ethical organizations
and societies going forward.--Jonathan Haidt author of The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are
Divided by Politics and Religion Does God make us good? In this fascinating new book Ara
Norenzayan explores how the invention of Big Gods--powerful and omniscient moralizing
deities--has transformed the world. Replete with insights about morality cooperation faith
atheism and much more Big Gods will change the way we think about human nature and human
society.--Paul Bloom author of Just Babies: The Origins of Good and Evil Of all the topics
forbidden debate in polite company religion is the last taboo. This brave lucid balanced
blend of compassion and science tackles our most cherished values and most intractable
disputes. Big Gods sheds light on the cultural evolution of sacred watchers who arguably make
us better humans. And it opens the door to explain how and when secular institutions can do the
same. For all of us who worry about the role of religion in the modern world this is a
must-read original milestone.--Susan T. Fiske coauthor of Social Cognition: From Brains to
Culture In this bold and important work the brilliant young social scientist Ara Norenzayan
offers a profound new perspective on religion and atheism arguing that some gods were more
effective than others at promoting trust and cooperation among strangers. The rich narrative
ranges all over the world covering not only religious people and the difference between big
and little gods but also the puzzling durability of widespread prejudice against atheists.
Packed with information extending from international social trends to findings from scientific
experiments this deeply thought-provoking book will change the way you understand the
connection between religion and social life.--Roy F. Baumeister coauthor of Willpower:
Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength This is by far the most accessible and comprehensive
synthesis of the new social and cognitive science of religion. Ara Norenzayan combines
ingenious cross-cultural experiments and judicious historical analysis to give an original
evolutionary account of the civilization-creating idea of Big Gods. He also provides a
compelling exploration of the ongoing global competition for humanity's heart and mind between
the monotheisms and various forms of atheism that represent God's secular offspring including
the great ideologies of the modern era and perhaps science itself.--Scott Atran author of In
Gods We Trust: The Evolutionary Landscape of Religion In a time of heated debate about the
origin and function of religion Ara Norenzayan provides a much-needed well-written argument
based on extensive research. The data reveal how religion impacts human behavior. His view that
an omniscient God is our own creation designed to deal with the problem of freeriders deserves
much more attention. It brings faith closer to where Darwin thought it belonged in the sphere
of social life and cooperation.--Frans de Waal author of The Bonobo and the Atheist This is a
terrific book. Authoritative clear and written in a straightforward entertaining style it
deals with a problem of great interest to a wide range of general readers and academics
including psychologists anthropologists historians and sociologists.--Robert Boyd coauthor
of Not by Genes Alone: How Culture Transformed Human Evolution
