An Evolutionary Psychology of Religion

PsycCRITIQUES ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 52 (23) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Patton Barone
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Psychology ◽  
Psychology Of Religion

Shamanism within a general theory of religious action (no cheesecake needed)

2018 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Beit-Hallahmi
Keyword(s):  
General Theory ◽  
Evolutionary Psychology ◽  
Psychology Of Religion ◽  
General Term ◽  
Evolutionary Constraints ◽  
Religious Rituals ◽  
The Creation

AbstractSingh places the understanding of shamanism within the cognitive/evolutionary psychology of religion but is then sidetracked by presenting unhelpful analogies. The concepts of “superstition” as a general term for religious rituals and of “superstitious learning” as a mechanism accounting for the creation of rituals in humans reflect an underestimation of the human imagination, which is guided by cognitive/evolutionary constraints. Mentalizing, hypervigilance in agent detection, and anthropomorphism explain the behaviors involved in religious illusions (or delusions).

Veblen's evolutionary economics of religion and the evolutionary psychology of religion

2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 146-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles G. Leathers ◽  
J. Patrick Raines
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Psychology ◽  
Human Nature ◽  
Religious Belief ◽  
Evolutionary Economics ◽  
Psychology Of Religion ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Economics Of Religion ◽  
Domain Specific ◽  
Psychological Mechanisms ◽  
Survival And Reproduction

Purpose – Because belief in a supernatural agent with extraordinary power is rooted in psychology, Veblen's instinct psychology was the essential basis for his evolutionary economics of religion. The innate behavioral traits that Veblen called instincts in human nature are now recognized in evolutionary psychology as domain-specific mechanism that evolved as adaptations to enable human survival and reproduction. The authors aim to explain how the modern evolutionary psychology of religion provides a modern psychological basis for Veblen's evolutionary economics of religion. Design/methodology/approach – First, the authors review how Veblen's theory of an evolved human nature of instincts was applied to explain the origins of religion in primitive societies and remained a resilient force despite evolutionary erosion of institutional religion as science advanced. Second, the authors note how evolutionary psychology explains the origins of religion in terms of the functioning of domain-specific psychological mechanisms that evolved as adaptations for purposes other than religion. Findings – The similarities between Veblen's instinct psychology and the explanation of religion as by-products of domain-specific psychological mechanisms are sufficient to allow the conclusion that the evolutionary psychology of religion provides a modern psychological basis for Veblen's evolutionary economics of religion. Originality/value – An evolutionary economics of religion has a great social value if it provides credible explanations of both the origins of religious belief and innate tendency for religious belief to continue even as science refutes elements of religious doctrines. With a modern psychological basis, Veblen's evolutionary economics of religion accomplishes that purpose.

Beyond Freud in Psychoanalytic Psychology of Religion? On the Discussion of Religion as Projection

2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob Belzen
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Science ◽  
Evolutionary Psychology ◽  
Sigmund Freud ◽  
Psychology Of Religion ◽  
Greek Philosophy ◽  
Important Contributor ◽  
Critique Of Religion

AbstractIn 1907, Sigmund Freud initiated the psychoanalytic psychology of religion, until the present day the most important contributor to the psychology of religion literature in general, and the branch of psychological critique of religion best known outside of psychology circles (having drawn attention from a multitude of philosophers, theologians and scholars on religion). One often reads that of the remarks made by Freud about religion would be, that it is a 'projection.' While not being original (the claim had been earlier articulated many times, from Greek philosophy until Feuerbach), it has been regarded as Freud's major contribution to the (psychological) critique of religion, especially in vulgarized psychoanalytic parlance. This paper reviews what has been stated about religion as projection by psychoanalysts and other scholars. Also correcting some common misreadings of Freud, the paper is especially inquiring whether and in which sense progress has been booked in the psychology of religion, touching briefly on some contemporary contributions to the field from neurobiology, cognitive science and evolutionary psychology.

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