Abstract
This article explores the cognitive science of religion to discover the challenges and implications for theology by providing a critical evaluation through the lenses of philosophy, evolutionary biology and neuroscience. Four positive implications of the cognitive science of religion are identified. Firstly, the cognitive science of religion can function as a strong hermeneutics of suspicion through which theologians can criticise dogmatic and authoritative religions and theologies. Secondly, the cognitive science of religion invites scholars of religion and theology to consider the evolutionary view of survival. Thirdly, the discipline’s counter-intuitive concept of God could provide the basic material for theology. Finally, the folk psychology this field depends on can be harmonised with theological emphasis on the weak. Despite these positive comments, it is nevertheless clear that a constructive encounter between the cognitive science of religion and theology should follow a careful critique of the former. Thus, I criticise that the cognitive science of religion is excessively dependent on evolutionary psychology and overemphasises a reductionist explanation of religion as merely a by-product of evolutionary adaptation whilst this study almost precludes any non-reductionistic model of mind such as ‘connectionism’ and ‘enactionism’ as well as any holistic interpretation of religion and theology. Finally, I conclude that theology of nature is a proper method for establishing a relationship between the cognitive science of religion and theology.Contribution: The article explores a critical accommodation of and response to the cognitive science of religion which has challenged religion and theology. It can not only expand transdisciplinarity of theological discourse, but also enrich the discourse of science and religion.
Highlights
It is interesting to consider that scientific revolutions have occurred coincidentally in cycles of 100 years – for example, Isaac Newton (1642–1727), Lavoisier (1743–1794), Charles Darwin (1809–1882)
Wilson and Richard Dawkins appeared from a background of Neo-Darwinism and have continued to challenge the social sciences, including religious studies, right up to the present
Almost simultaneously with the appearance of evolutionary psychology, a new field emerged, called the ‘cognitive science of religion’, which engages in scientific research into the study of religions, and can be considered a direct challenge to various religions, including Christianity
Summary
It is interesting to consider that scientific revolutions have occurred coincidentally in cycles of 100 years – for example, Isaac Newton (1642–1727), Lavoisier (1743–1794), Charles Darwin (1809–1882). Almost simultaneously with the appearance of evolutionary psychology, a new field emerged, called the ‘cognitive science of religion’, which engages in scientific research into the study of religions, and can be considered a direct challenge to various religions, including Christianity.
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