There is no bigger subject than the new science of religion. The God Instinct is a surprising and original take on why we believe in God -- and how this belief led to our success as a species. Why does even the most committed atheist turn to God when a family member falls seriously ill, or they find themselves in close personal danger? Using the latest scientific evidence, Jesse Bering explores how people's everyday thoughts, behaviours and emotions betray an innate tendency to reason as though God were deeply invested in their public lives and secret affairs. In this entertaining and thought-provoking book, he argues that this religious reflex is not an irrational aberration, and that God is not a cultural invention or an existential band-aid, but an intrinsic human trait, developed over millennia, that carries powerful evolutionary benefits. Breaking new ground, The God Instinct uses hard science to show that God is not a delusion, but a sophisticated cognitive illusion. Bering reveals the roots of religion in our ability to think beyond our immediate surroundings, and explains why this capacity for belief sets us apart from other animals. From a respected psychologist and awardwinning columnist, this is the only book to explain belief in God from a scientific perspective. Jesse Bering not only presents serious ideas in an accessible and engaging way, but also takes a more considered, rational approach than the extreme views so often found on either side of the great debate.