Imagining the Gods

Abstract

Imagination plays a fundamental role in conceptualizing superhuman agents, namely gods, spirits, demons, angels, and so forth in all human cultures where they appear in mythic narratives, oral and written, as well as ritual structure and practice. Even very young children are captivated by minimally counter-intuitive agents. This chapter will examine why, despite the enlightenment and the revolutionary ideas brought about by scientific discovery, the human imagination refuses to abandon such modes of thought. The cognitive and evolutionary science of religion (CSR) provides important clues as to why that might be the case.