An Introduction to the Cognitive Science of Religion: Connecting Evolution, Brain, Cognition, and Culture PDF
Preview An Introduction to the Cognitive Science of Religion: Connecting Evolution, Brain, Cognition, and Culture
“The Cognitive Science of Religion (‘CSR’ for short) is often described as a ‘new field’ but it is rapidly maturing and that is why this introduction is urgentlyneeded.ClaireWhiteisexceptionally wellplaced toprovideit,having been among the first cohort of researchers to be trained in the field and now America’s first tenure track professor in CSR. This book is essential reading for any student interested in the scientific study of religion.” Harvey Whitehouse, Oxford University, UK. “This outstanding first-of-its kind introductory text on the cognitive science of religion represents a major step forward for this rapidly growing and high impact discipline. This groundbreaking book, written by one of the field’s foremost experts, is authoritative, accessible, and inclusive. I have no doubt that it will become part of the canon of core literature in the cognitive science of religion and will be instrumental in building this fascinating field of study.” Cristine H. Legare, University of Texas at Austin, USA. An Introduction to the Cognitive Science of Religion In recent decades, a new scientific approach to understand, explain, and predict many features of religion has emerged. The cognitive science of religion (CSR) hasamassedresearchontheforcesthatshapethetendencyforhumanstobereli- gious and on what forms belief takes. It suggests that religion, like language or music,naturallyemergesinhumanswithtractablesimilarities.Thisnewapproach has profound implications for how we understand religion, including why it appearssoeasily,andwhypeoplearewillingtofight—anddie—forit.Yetitisnot withoutitscritics,andsomefearthatscholarsareexplainingtheineffablemystery of religion away, or showing that religion is natural proves or disproves the exis- tenceofGod. An Introduction to the Cognitive Science of Religion offers students and general readers an accessible introduction to the approach, providing an overview of key findings and the debates that shape it. The volume includes a glossary of key terms, and each chapter includes suggestions for further thought and further reading as well as chapter summaries highlighting key points. This book is an indispensable resource for introductory courses on religion and a much-needed option for advanced courses. Claire White is Associate Professor in Religious Studies at California State University, Northridge. She was appointedas the first tenure-track position in the cognitive science of religion at a religious studies department in the United States. An Introduction to the Cognitive Science of Religion Connecting Evolution, Brain, Cognition, and Culture Claire White Firstpublished2021 byRoutledge 2ParkSquare,MiltonPark,Abingdon,OxonOX144RN andbyRoutledge 605ThirdAvenue,NewYork,NY10158 RoutledgeisanimprintoftheTaylor&FrancisGroup,aninformabusiness ©2021ClaireWhite TherightofClaireWhitetobeidentifiedasauthorofthisworkhasbeen assertedbyhim/her/theminaccordancewithsections77and78ofthe Copyright,DesignsandPatentsAct1988. Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybereprintedorreproducedor utilisedinanyformorbyanyelectronic,mechanical,orothermeans,now knownorhereafterinvented,includingphotocopyingandrecording,orin anyinformationstorageorretrievalsystem,withoutpermissioninwriting fromthepublishers. Trademarknotice:Productorcorporatenamesmaybetrademarksorregistered trademarks,andareusedonlyforidentificationandexplanationwithout intenttoinfringe. BritishLibraryCataloguing-in-PublicationData AcataloguerecordforthisbookisavailablefromtheBritishLibrary LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData Acatalogrecordhasbeenrequestedforthisbook ISBN:978-1-138-49924-9(hbk) ISBN:978-1-138-54146-7(pbk) ISBN:978-1-351-01097-9(ebk) TypesetinBembo byTaylor&FrancisBooks OnerainySaturdayattheInstituteofCognitionandCulture, Belfast in 2006, five scholars deliberated over my academic fate. I am forever grateful for their decision and continued support. This book is dedicated to the members of my Ph.D. Differentiation Committee: Jesse Bering, Emma Cohen, Tom Lawson, Paulo Sousa, and especially my Ph.D. supervisor, Harvey Whitehouse. Contents List of figures x List of tables xiv Foreword xv Acknowledgements xvi 1 Introduction to the cognitive science of religion 1 2 Core assumptions about religion and belief 24 3 Research questions 49 4 Methods 77 5 The nature of the world 103 6 The afterlife 143 7 Supernatural agents 180 8 Morality 222 9 Rituals Part 1: How are rituals learned, represented, and transmitted? 255 10 Rituals Part 2: What are the functions of rituals? 284 11 Conclusion 306 Glossary 334 Index 347
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