List of illustrations Acknowledgements Preface 1. Religion and science: the
questions 2. Some background issues 3. What does it mean to say 'I
believe?' 4. What are gods like? 5. The development of beliefs 6. Why do
people believe in gods? 7. The dynamics of belief and its relation to the
social system 8. Narratives 9. Ritual: background considerations 1.0 The
form and sequence of ritual: magic 1.1 The motivation and consequences of
ritual 12. Moral codes: background considerations 13. Prosocial behaviour
and reciprocity 14. Other moral precepts 15. Religious experience 16.
Social aspects of religious systems 17. Why do religious systems persist?
18. Where do we go from here? Notes Bibliography Index
