Does Religious Behavior Render Humans Special?

Abstract

Developments in the new scientific study of religion provide abundant analysis and material to determine how human-specific are religious beliefs and behaviors. Some explanations clearly try to observe links between religious attitudes and those of other animal species. Three research lines are explored. The first looks for the presence of ‘religious precursors’ in other species, especially in great apes. The second identifies some behavioral isomorphism between human religious behavior and general animal behavior. This is the case of submissive-like behaviors rendering oneself lower or smaller or more vulnerable before a more powerful and aggressive subject (Jay Feierman) seen in the non-verbal aspect of petitioning prayer in all religions. The third approach looks at the cognitive level to identify which forms can be shared with other animals and which ones could be identified as human-specific, since some aspects of current religious beliefs require ‘higher’ faculties and conditions. The answer to the title question should be nuanced, since – to some extent – affinities and isomorphism with other animals can be identified, while other aspects of religion, like those which are more symbolic and cultural, qualify religion as a ‘special’ human feature.