Gods in Our Minds

Piotr Prokopowicz

ISBN 10: 3844381201 / ISBN 13: 9783844381207

Published by LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing Mai 2011, 2011

About this Item

Neuware -What are the psychological and cultural mechanisms responsible for the prevalence of religious beliefs Are human beings naturally predisposed to believe in the supernatural agency Is it possible to explain various forms of religion with reference to the universal structures of human mind These are the most fundamental questions addressed in this book. The main purpose of the book is to provide a sound evolutionary and cognitive account of the origins of religious phenomena, based on the diversified body of psychological and anthropological data. Classical approaches to religion in social sciences are presented, analyzed and criticized. Furthermore, a new branch of theorizing developing at the intersection of natural and social sciences, inspired by the recent developments in biology, evolutionary psychology and cognitive anthropology is introduced and employed to analyze various religious phenomena, including religious beliefs and rituals. Finally, further perspectives of the evolutionary and cognitive approach to culture are put forward.Books on Demand GmbH, Überseering 33, 22297 Hamburg 100 pp. Englisch.

Seller Inventory # 9783844381207

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Gods in Our Minds
• Publisher: LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing Mai 2011
• Publication Date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3844381201
• ISBN 13: 9783844381207
• Binding: Taschenbuch
• Condition: Neu

About this title

Synopsis

What are the psychological and cultural mechanisms responsible for the prevalence of religious beliefs? Are human beings naturally predisposed to believe in the supernatural agency? Is it possible to explain various forms of religion with reference to the universal structures of human mind? These are the most fundamental questions addressed in this book. The main purpose of the book is to provide a sound evolutionary and cognitive account of the origins of religious phenomena, based on the diversified body of psychological and anthropological data. Classical approaches to religion in social sciences are presented, analyzed and criticized. Furthermore, a new branch of theorizing developing at the intersection of natural and social sciences, inspired by the recent developments in biology, evolutionary psychology and cognitive anthropology is introduced and employed to analyze various religious phenomena, including religious beliefs and rituals. Finally, further perspectives of the evolutionary and cognitive approach to culture are put forward.

About the Author

Piotr Prokopowicz is a sociologist and psychologist. His research focuses on cognitive aspects of social phenomena ranging from religion, trust and management to organizational culture. He teaches classes in Sources of Sociological Data, Personnel Psychology, and Psychological Organization Diagnosis at Jagiellonian University in Krakow.