A Cognitive Theory of Religion (original) (raw)

This paper proposes a cognitive theory of religion, rooted in the biological and perceptual similarities between humans and nonhuman animals. It argues that both humans and animals navigate ambiguous environments by attributing agency to inanimate objects, suggesting an evolutionary basis for religious thought grounded in perceptual and cognitive strategies. The author emphasizes the need for a comprehensive cognitive and evolutionary framework that accounts for anthropomorphism and animism, linking human cognitive processes to those observed in animal behavior.