Can Religion be Explained?
This article claims that the study of religion has overlooked a feature of the human mind that may yet help to explain certain aspects of religion. Awareness, it is here argued, can vary along a dimension that is characterized by the density of associations and other inputs that accompany it. The me...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Brill
2017
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| In: |
Method & theory in the study of religion
Year: 2017, Volume: 29, Issue: 1, Pages: 1-30 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Religion
/ Awareness
/ Meditation
/ Religious experience
/ Cognitive science
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| IxTheo Classification: | AA Study of religion AE Psychology of religion AG Religious life; material religion |
| Further subjects: | B
Religion
cognition
absorption
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| Online Access: |
Volltext (Verlag) |
| Summary: | This article claims that the study of religion has overlooked a feature of the human mind that may yet help to explain certain aspects of religion. Awareness, it is here argued, can vary along a dimension that is characterized by the density of associations and other inputs that accompany it. The mechanism behind this is concentration, including the stronger form of concentration here called absorption. Absorption has cognitive effects, and is at least in part responsible for the human tendency to believe in a different, “higher,” reality. Various other features usually associated with religion—including ritual behavior and asceticism—also make sense in the light of this observation. |
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| ISSN: | 1570-0682 |
| Contains: | In: Method & theory in the study of religion
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/15700682-12341375 |