Cognitive Foundations in the Development of a Religious Mind

Abstract

Evolutionary explanations for the existence of religious concepts have generally been based on the premise that the transmission and acquisition of religious concepts is a cognitively easy process because religious concepts build on natural cognitive predispositions. These predispositions evolved as cognitive toolstool essential to human survivalsurvival. Theories have focused on several candidate cognitive processes that provide the cognitive foundations of religious beliefs: agencyagency detection, folk-psychologyfolk-psychology, attributions of causalitycausality, and the animacy/inanimacy distinction. In this chapter, we review theories and studies outlining childrenchildren ’s development of religious concepts such as supernaturalsupernatural agents, creationcreation, religious ritualsritual, afterlife beliefs, and the soulsoul. These studies are discussed within the context of the contributions of ordinary cognitioncognition in religious beliefbelief, as well as the importance of also considering the cultural influences in the strength and content of belief.