Mental Culture: Classical Social Theory and the Cognitive Science of Religion (Religion, Cognition and Culture)

Over the last two centuries, several scholars have asked the question, why is the set of human beliefs and behaviors that we call religion such a widespread feature of all known human societies, past and present, and why are there so many forms of religiosity found throughout history and culture? In this edited volume, Xygalatas and McCorkle pose these fundamental questions to a dynamic group of scholars interested in explaining religiosity from a variety of scientific perspectives, with a common reference to human cognition the way our mind works. Based on the ideas of some of the most prominent social theorists to ever discuss these questions, top researchers from a variety of disciplines (anthropology, history, psychology, philosophy, and the study of religion itself) attempt to bridge these classical theories of religion with the newly emerging field of the cognitive science of religion, drawing from cutting-edge research in the scientific study of human religiosity. Mental Culture is a work of reference, bringing together some of the most influential theories of religion and the latest developments in the field. It is both an excellent reader for every student and scholar of religion and an ideal introduction for anyone interested in the interface between cognition and culture.