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Explanatory Limits in the Cognitive Science of Religion: Theoretical Matrix and Evidence Levels

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New Developments in the Cognitive Science of Religion

Part of the book series: New Approaches to the Scientific Study of Religion ((NASR,volume 4))

Abstract

Cognitive Science of Religion (CSR) has developed for almost 20 years naturalistic explanations on religious mind and behavior, opening that field to scientific scrutiny. Scholars used to study religion from a more humanistic tradition or a hermeneutic approach could feel surprised by the application of biological-evolutionary, cognitive and neurological means to better explain religion. Not too confident with the new approach, many traditional students of religion, like theologians, religion philosophers, phenomenologists, and even psychologists, were often dazzled by the exhibition of new terms, concepts and ways to understand religion, beyond the traditional frames. Time is ripe for an assessment on the plausibility that these new theories exhibit, taking into account their respective frameworks and the reported empirical evidence.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    See also Claire White’s contribution in this volume, Chap. 3.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pontifical University Antonianum Rome, Rome, Italy

    Lluis Oviedo

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  1. Lluis Oviedo
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Correspondence to Lluis Oviedo .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Philosophy, VU Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Hans van Eyghen

  2. Department of Philosophy, VU Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Rik Peels

  3. Faculty of Religion and Theology, VU Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Gijsbert van den Brink

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Oviedo, L. (2018). Explanatory Limits in the Cognitive Science of Religion: Theoretical Matrix and Evidence Levels. In: van Eyghen, H., Peels, R., van den Brink, G. (eds) New Developments in the Cognitive Science of Religion. New Approaches to the Scientific Study of Religion , vol 4. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90239-5_2

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