“An excellent book. . . . a good text or supplemental text for those teaching a psychology of religion course that is more than clinical.” — Journal of Psychology and Christianity
“This is a very accessible book that introduces students to cognitive research on religion. It does a fine job representing the research.” — Michael Nielsen, Georgia Southern University
163 pages, $33.95 list
1-4786-2761-1
978-1-4786-2761-6
© 2016
paperback
eBook availability
Cognitive Psychology of Religion
Is religion all in our heads? Whether you believe that to be true or whether you believe that religion has a corresponding external reality (i.e., God), religion at least begins with our heads, namely the cognitive architecture that predisposes human beings to belief in the sacred supernatural. Cognitive Psychology of Religion explores how research in neuroscience, perception, cognition, child development, social cognition, and cognitive anthropology provides insight into the development of the cognitive faculties of belief that facilitate the transmission of religion.
Eames has organized the text into seven chapters that follow a clear and straightforward progression from the different theories of the origin of religion into an exploration on how our minds perceive the environment, form truths, spread beliefs, and take part in various rituals and experiences. Cognitive Psychology of Religion is a concise introduction to the cognitive science of religion and serves as an excellent primary or supplemental text for traditional psychology of religion courses.
Eames has organized the text into seven chapters that follow a clear and straightforward progression from the different theories of the origin of religion into an exploration on how our minds perceive the environment, form truths, spread beliefs, and take part in various rituals and experiences. Cognitive Psychology of Religion is a concise introduction to the cognitive science of religion and serves as an excellent primary or supplemental text for traditional psychology of religion courses.
Reactions
1. Theories on the Origin of Religion
Introduction: The Universality of Religion / Theories on the Origin of Religion / Naturalistic Theories on the Origin of Religion / Evolutionary Approaches to Religion / Theistic Approaches to the Origin of Religion
2. Neuroscience and Religious Belief
Introduction / Temporal Lobe Epilepsy: The Sacred Disease? / Michael Persinger's God Helmet / Andrew Newberg and Neurotheology / Azari and Distinctive Cognitive Patterns for Religious Experience / Social Cognition and Informal Personal Prayer / Limitations to the Neuroscientific Study of Religion
3. Making Sense of Our Perceptions
Introduction: Sense-Data and Belief / Pattern Recognition in Perception / Attention and Systems of Thought / From Perception to Knowledge / Application to the Cognitive Psychology of Religion
4. Cognitive Faculties and Belief Formation
Architecture of the Mind / Modularity and Intuition / Theory of Mind, Agents, and the Hypersensitive Agency Detection Device / Minimally Counterintuitive Agents and Gods / Inferential Potential and Intuitive Morality / Putting It Together
5. Childhood Development and Cognitive Faculties for Belief
A Child's Theology / Developmental Models / Evidence of Innate Religiosity in Early Childhood / How Do Children Learn about God? / Innate Morality in Infancy and Childhood
6. The Social-Cognitive Processes of Religious Transmission
Memorable Narratives / Mental Epidemics / Transmission of Counterintuitive Concepts / Memes / Modes of Religiosity
7. Cognitive Aspects of Religious Rituals and Experiences
Religious Rituals: A Broad Definition / Ritual and Language / Ritual Form Theory / Ritual Form Theory, Memory, and Cultural Transmission / Ritual Form Theory and Modes of Religiosity
Glossary
Introduction: The Universality of Religion / Theories on the Origin of Religion / Naturalistic Theories on the Origin of Religion / Evolutionary Approaches to Religion / Theistic Approaches to the Origin of Religion
2. Neuroscience and Religious Belief
Introduction / Temporal Lobe Epilepsy: The Sacred Disease? / Michael Persinger's God Helmet / Andrew Newberg and Neurotheology / Azari and Distinctive Cognitive Patterns for Religious Experience / Social Cognition and Informal Personal Prayer / Limitations to the Neuroscientific Study of Religion
3. Making Sense of Our Perceptions
Introduction: Sense-Data and Belief / Pattern Recognition in Perception / Attention and Systems of Thought / From Perception to Knowledge / Application to the Cognitive Psychology of Religion
4. Cognitive Faculties and Belief Formation
Architecture of the Mind / Modularity and Intuition / Theory of Mind, Agents, and the Hypersensitive Agency Detection Device / Minimally Counterintuitive Agents and Gods / Inferential Potential and Intuitive Morality / Putting It Together
5. Childhood Development and Cognitive Faculties for Belief
A Child's Theology / Developmental Models / Evidence of Innate Religiosity in Early Childhood / How Do Children Learn about God? / Innate Morality in Infancy and Childhood
6. The Social-Cognitive Processes of Religious Transmission
Memorable Narratives / Mental Epidemics / Transmission of Counterintuitive Concepts / Memes / Modes of Religiosity
7. Cognitive Aspects of Religious Rituals and Experiences
Religious Rituals: A Broad Definition / Ritual and Language / Ritual Form Theory / Ritual Form Theory, Memory, and Cultural Transmission / Ritual Form Theory and Modes of Religiosity
Glossary