Abstract
Despite the long scholarly discourse in Western theology and philosophy on religion, spirituality, and faith, explanations of what a belief and what believing is are still lacking. Recently, cognitive neuroscience research addressed the human capacity of believing. We present evidence suggesting that believing is a human brain function which results in probabilistic representations with attributes of personal meaning and value and thereby guides individuals’ behavior. We propose that the same mental processes operating on narratives and rituals constitute belief systems in individuals and social groups. Our theoretical model of believing is suited to account for secular and non-secular belief formation.
Highlights
This communication capitalizes on a new openness for understanding “religious phenomena” including “believing” as human abilities and activities (Connors & Halligan, 2015; Krueger & Grafman, 2013)
Summary largely neglected in contemporary science, we will show that believing is a fundamental brain function on which individual and societal behavior is grounded
In sorting out the levels of building blocks and their functions, the neurophysiological processes underlying the behavioral process of believing as studied empirically in the individual are differentiated from more general belief system processes that operate in large collections of people such as communities and societies
Summary
This communication capitalizes on a new openness for understanding “religious phenomena” including “believing” as human abilities and activities (Connors & Halligan, 2015; Krueger & Grafman, 2013). Keywords Belief , belief systems , behavior , credition , cerebral networks , meaning making , narratives , rituals , representations , perception , prediction , religion , valuation Thereby, we are more specific that believing is a fundamental brain process separate from religious beliefs.
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