Mind and Religion
Psychological and Cognitive Foundations of Religion
Contributions by Pascal Boyer, Robert Hinde Cambridge University, E Thomas Lawson, Todd Tremlin Central Michigan Universi, Matt Day, Justin Barrett, Rebekah A. Richert, Ilkka Pyysiäinen, Jesper Sørensen, D Jason Slone Edited by Harvey Whitehouse, Robert N. McCauley
Publication date:
02 June 2005Length of book:
248 pagesPublisher
AltaMira PressDimensions:
241x157mm6x9"
ISBN-13: 9780759106185
Recent cognitive approaches to the study of religion have yielded much understanding by focusing on common psychological processes that all humans share. One leading theory, Harvey WhitehouseOs modes of religiosity theory, demonstrates how two distinct modes of organizing and transmitting religious traditions emerge from different ways of activating universal memory systems. In Mind and Religion, top scholars from biology to religious studies question, test, evaluate and challenge WhitehouseOs sweeping thesis. The result is an up-to-date snapshot of the cognitive science of religion field for classes in psychology, anthropology, or history of religion.
This book provides an excellent set of commentaries, and for those interested in cognitive approaches to religion more generally, it offers a good overview.