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Abstract

Cognitive science of religion (CSR) suggests the naturalness of religion. Religious beliefs are viewed as natural because they are intuitive and cognitively effortless. They are also inevitable and more obvious than atheism. In consequence, atheism is an unnatural phenomenon which requires special cultural and social support. However, this naturalness of religion hypothesis seems overestimated. Here we show that atheism is more natural than religion and religious beliefs in the cognitive sense because it meets the criteria appropriate for natural selection in the sense of ultimate explanation. Religion and religious beliefs require cultural inputs. Without cultural support, they seem unnatural.

Key words: cognitive science of religion, religious beliefs, naturalness, intuitiveness, theism, atheism, natural selection

Slowa kluczowe: religioznawstwo kognitywne, wierzenia religijne, naturalnosc, intuicyjnosc, teizm, ateizm, naturalna selekcja

Religion cannot be cognitively natural because it is biologically unnatural

The "cognitive theory of religion" was introduced by Stewart Guthrie in 1980.1 Cognitive science of religion (CSR) assumes the immutability and homogeneity of cognitive mechanisms which are independent of cultural diversity.2 CSR explains (but does not interpret) religious beliefs, ideas, and behaviours, and looks for their cognitive roots.3 CSR naturalises religion and religious beliefs.4 Religious beliefs are interpreted as a natural phenomenon which is a result of cognitive biases.5 Atheism does not have this natural cognitive support.6 We are aware that the term "religion" and "religious beliefs" are the subject of debate and are not unequivocal. When we use these terms we mean an individual belief that there is another kind of reality, or at least another kind of phenomena which are evoked by these religious concepts. We do not identify these terms with theism. We refer to the beliefs which are possessed by an individual.

In this paper, the term "naturalness" in the light of CSR signifies that religious beliefs are a cognitively effortless and intuitive phenomenon. Religious beliefs are more effortless than atheism, which "requires some hard cognitive work."7 Religious beliefs are produced by natural cognitive intuitions (HADD, for instance), and are cognitively effortless. Cognitive easiness is a consequence of the assumption that religious beliefs are produced by intuitive biases. In this paper we do not accept this point of view. Atheism is less intuitive than religious culture, but it seems a natural starting point in a...

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