The Cognitive Science of Religion

May 4, 2011

Is religious experience intrinsically related to human cognition? In recent decades this question has prompted significant academic interest from a wide range of scholarly disciplines including anthropology, biology, philosophy, and psychology. The result of this research is an emerging consensus among scientists that the mind has a natural bias towards religious ideas. The human inclination towards religion, if true, would have consequences for the treatment of religion in public affairs. Cognitive psychologist Justin Barrett has been a leading figure in the exploration of this question and spoke on his research. Richard Sosis, a prominent scholar in the field of evolutionary anthropology, offered a formal response. Following their interventions, a general discussion ensued between invited scholars representing a diverse set of academic fields.

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