The Invention of God

The Natural Origins of Mythology and Religion

"Lauritzen has some good ideas..." — Daniel Dennett, Philosopher & Author

"Anyone interested in science and religion should read this book." — Dr. Elizabeth Loftus, Ph.D., Award-Winning Psychologist

"Bill Lauritzen is some kind of genius." — Sir Arthur C. Clarke

"An interesting and thought-provoking book." — Dr. Mamikon Mnatsakanian, Ph.D, Astrophysicist, Caltech

How did mythology and religion first begin?

Where did the ideas of “God,” “spirit,” and “soul” come from? In this groundbreaking work, the author takes us back to our prehistoric roots, showing how early humans struggled to make sense of a volatile and awe-inspiring world.

Synthesizing a vast array of disciplines—from cognitive science and evolutionary biology to geology, volcanology, and astronomy—this book peels back the layers of history to reveal the natural origins and surprising true meaning of our most sacred stories. From the depths of the ocean to the heights of active volcanoes, discover how the environment shaped the human mind and gave birth to the gods.

Independently researched and written before the rise of "Big History" trends, this work reveals that our most sacred stories are not mere metaphors, but eyewitness accounts of a volatile natural world. By synthesizing a vast array of disciplines—from cognitive science and evolutionary biology to geology, volcanology, and atmospheric science—Lauritzen provides the naturalistic link often overlooked by other thinkers.

The (Human) Invention of God serves as the essential introduction to Bill Lauritzen's upcoming work, Atoms and Souls: The Prehistoric Origins of Science and Religion. To explore more of the research, visit Earth360.com.

A study in conjecture

This was like watching Discovery Channel Ancient Aliens. Every statement he made contained “may have” “could have” and was basically unsupported, except as stretches of his imagination. Small wonder he couldn’t find a publisher. In my view, Desmond Morris (“The Naked Ape“) had a much more supportable theory. We as hominids are hardwired to recognize an alpha who eats first, mates first and runs the troop. So genetically ingrained, we imagine there must be an Uber Alpha even without evidence that there is or ever was. This book was a joke.

AI Narration is a Mistake

Intriguing and provocative and worth the time to read. Minor distractions, such as virtual voice continuous mispronunciations and imperfect pauses, and occasional incorrect science like claiming the Pacific Ocean was formed from the collision of Theia, should not distract from the main theme. It’s a thesis that needs examination.