"Some of the [research and development] can be observed ... directly: debates among religious leaders about whether to abandon awkward elements of their orthodoxy, decisions by building committees to... more

"Some of the [research and development] can be observed ... directly: debates among religious leaders about whether to abandon awkward elements of their orthodoxy, decisions by building committees to accept a winning architectural proposal for a new temple, ... theologians writing tracts, televangelists meeting with advertising agencies and other consultants to plan their new season of broadcasts. In the developed world, in addition to time and energy spent in religious observance, there is a huge enterprise of public and private criticism and defense, interpretation and comparison, of every aspect of religion. If [we can] focus on this, [we] will form the impression that religion, like science or music or professional sport, consists of systems of social activity that are designed and redesigned by conscious, deliberate agents who are aware of the points or purposes of the enterprises, the problems that need solving, the risks and costs and benefits."

Sadly, the people who need to read this book never will

Just started, off to an interesting start.