Religion as Intrinsic to Human Experience

Is belief in God properly basic to humanity? Philosophers of religion have vigorously contested this question, and the relationship between theism and rationality more generally, over the past several decades. As part of its ongoing research project on religion as intrinsic to human experience, the Religious Freedom Project hosted a standing seminar addressing this topic with noted philosopher Alvin Plantinga on January 7. A panel of distinguished philosophers engaged with Plantinga's paper on the basic nature of belief in God and the rationality of theism and with a response by respected philosopher Ernest Sosa. The panel subsequently delved into these issues and assessed their impact on broader questions involving the philosophical underpinnings of religious freedom.

The practice of religion has been observed in some form in all societies since the beginning of history. If it is the case that historically “where two or three are gathered” religion will be manifest in the communal life of the people, how integral is religion to the formation and stability of human personhood, culture, and society? As part of its standing seminar series on “Religion as Integral to Human Experience,” the Religious Freedom Project explored this question with noted sociologists Christian Smith, author of What is a Person?, and Phil Zuckerman, author of Society without God.

Are religious people happier and healthier than their non-religious neighbors or is association with religion deleterious to one's health and happiness? Though these questions have sparked debate among scientists and philosophers for centuries, serious inquiry into the complex associations between religion, health, and happiness date back only a few decades.

As part of its standing seminar series on the relationship between religion and the human experience, the Religious Freedom Project invited two pioneers in the field of the relationship between religion and health to debate these and other questions at this interdisciplinary seminar. Although the research has shown an association between the presence of religion in a person's life and an increase in the positive measures of health and happiness, important questions such as the causal mechanism of the relationship and the variance between religions remain to be fully understood.

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 to Religious Freedom Project on May 4, 2011. 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.