The God Virus

March 18, 2010
7:00 pm
Join us for an evening with Dr. Darrel Ray, author of The God Virus.
The Mission Valley Resort, Salon Ballroom
875 Hotel Circle South
San Diego CA 92108

Controversial Look at the Psychology of Religion Gives Practical Legs to the Revolutionary Idea That Religion Is an Infection of the Mind

New framework for understanding religion offers useful guidance on how to deal with religious infection in yourself or others

The idea that religion is like an infection that damages or shuts off certain mental abilities is not new, but in The God Virus: How Religion Infects Our Lives and Culture, author Dr. Darrel Ray brings it down to a practical level.

Dr. Ray explains that the methods by which religions propagate in society bear a remarkable resemblance to the way viruses, parasites, and bacterial diseases propagate.

In some cases, biological diseases infect the brain and direct the infected organisms behavior. Religions also seem to infect mental functions, Ray asserts, and direct behavior in ways not necessarily good for people.

While biological propagation strategies spread diseases such as malaria, HIV, and rabies, Dr. Ray discusses religious infection strategies such as fear, guilt, hypnosis, and the need for security as avenues to inject the god virus and propagate it to others.

An extension of the concept of ‘viruses of the mind’ discussed by Richard Dawkins in his book, The God Delusion, Dr. Ray’s, The God Virus: How Religion Infects Our Lives and Culture details the practical consequences of religious infection in personalities, families, and culture.

If you are non-religious, this book may help you understand the behavior of those who are infected with religion. If you are religious, it will give you tools to understand your infection and maybe how to control or eliminate its detrimental effects in your life.

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