Jonathan Gottschall's The Storytelling Animal

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Jonathan Gottschall's The Storytelling Animal investigates the connection between story and everyday human; the novel delves into the ways stories make us a better, fuller person. As such, Gottschall cites religion as being a mode of storytelling, allowing humans to think beyond themselves and often beyond the tangible world. He also states that human beings conjure religion in order to answer questions that are not backed by scientific evidence or that are simply unanswerable. Gottschall argues that, because humans are curious beings, we have an inclination to "conjure gods, spirits, and sprites to fill explanatory voids" (Gottschall 121). Religion allows humans to have a comprehendible answer to an unknown or controversial phenomenon such …show more content…

Gottschall also argues that religion has more purpose than to just provide answers; he asserts religion gives human beings societal stability. When religions are established, humans simply work better together. Faith establishes morality, law, and order. Religions allow human beings to think beyond the self and put the rest of society's interests first (Gottschall 122). The Storytelling Animal examines the benefits of organized religion as a means for both explanation and order in the modern world. I agree with Gottschall that religion benefits a large population of the world. I say this without hesitation because while there are many instances where religion does not benefit the whole of society (systemic denunciation of abortion, the scapegoating of Islam to inflict terror), most of these issues are perpetuated by groups in society rather than their actual roots in the religion. For instance, Islam is an extremely peaceful religion and is intended to be pacifistic in all aspects. When a certain group holds the religion responsible when committing acts of violence, it skews the public perception of religion's purpose in the world. Gottschall brings to light the actual role of religion in the world today, and I agree with him: religion does

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