That is intended only metaphorically.
I've always found it interesting that virtually all human societies, from the smallest band of nomads in the bush to the largest of civilizations have worshipped something or another.
The reasons for this are a subject for debate, though. It could be a biological thing, but I think it's more the fact that human beings are intelligent enough to wonder about the world around them.
Almost all religions answer some basic, universal questions: What is this place? Where did it come from? How did I get here? What happens when I die? What's that big light in the sky? That sort of thing.
It stands to reason that humans are going to ask those questions, just as our youngsters continue to ask why the sky is blue, etc.
If biology plays a part, it would be in the source for our intelligence.
But, that's just my opinion, based on a lot of reading and a lot of thinking.
Note that Dennett exempts himself from his own theory. If belief is caused by physical brain events and is therefore questionable, why is his atheism not subject to the same analysis?
Just pinging a few of the usual suspects on a subject that may be of interest...
Notice that the perfessor is wearing the Official Academic Professor Shoes...
So Intelligent Design is ruled out of bounds because it is "not science", but faith - but this guy makes the NYT by applying "science" to de-construct religious faith? This sounds like the Christian is being forced to fight with both hands tied behind his back and his mouth taped shut - I guess the NYT would condsider that to be a fair fight.
As a scientist, Dennett relies on the empiricist theory of truth (all that I know is mediated through my five senses) Unfortunatlely for him, this theory is self refuting because it cannot itself be verified by the human senses.
Aw, c'mon this is from the NYT, fer gosh sakes. Meaningless tripe.
Dennett is a very influential philosopher at Tufts. He and his buddy Richard Dawkins spearhead the materialist point of view today. They've done more to make atheism respectable than any of their likeminded predecessors, and the religious should take serious heed of the challenge they represent.
bump
To digress into the sociology of science: Why are Dennett and Dawkins so popular? How did Carl Sagan get his spotlight? Dawkins was endowed by a Microsoft Billionaire, I know.
Eric Hoffer QuotesThe opposite of the religious fanatic is not the fanatical atheist but the gentle cynic who cares not whether there is a god or not.
Collected by John Petrie
Mass movements can rise and spread without belief in a God, but never without belief in a devil.