Why Religion Is Natural and Science Is Not

TABLE OF CONTENTS

List of figures

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Endnotes

 

Chapter One
Natural Cognition

I. Knowing It All at Once

II. Transparent Knowledge

III. Cognition as Embodied and Embedded

IV. Two Types of Natural Actions

V. Two (Parallel) Types of Natural Cognition

Endnotes

 

Chapter Two
Maturational Naturalness

I. Stick Close to Your Desks

II. Persisting Illusions

III. Mental Modules

IV. Massive Modularity

V. The Watergate Questions for Babies

VI. Maturational Naturalness Redux

VII. Ever Mindful

Endnotes

 

Chapter Three
Unnatural Science

I. The Boxing Day Disaster

II. Clarification #1: 

III. Material and Abstract Tools, or Technology Is (Still) Not Science

IV. Clarification #2: 

V. The Cognitively Natural Dimensions of Science – A Penchant for Theorizing and Sensitivity to the Importance of Evidence

VI. Science’s Cognitively Unnatural Products

VII. Science’s Cognitively Unnatural Processes: Discerning, Collecting, Recording, Generating, Analyzing, and Assessing Evidence

VIII. Science’s Cognitively Unnatural Processes (continued):  Fallible Heuristics, Persisting Deliverances, Confirmation Bias, and Motivated Perception

IX. Coda:  Social Science

Endnotes

 

Chapter Four
Natural Religion

I. The Importance of Being “Ernest

II. Religion and Natural History

III. Religions as Rube Goldberg Devices

IV. Religion’s Cognitively Natural Products

V. Religion’s Cognitively Natural Processes

VI. Theory of Mind and Myth

VII. Theory of Mind and Ritual

VIII. Theory of Mind and Theological Incorrectness

Endnotes

 

Chapter Five
Surprising Consequences

I. Traditional Comparisons:  Turf Wars or Peace at a Price Too High

II. Traditional Comparisons of Science and Religion Are Cognitively Misbegotten

III. Theological Incorrectness Is Inevitable

IV. Science Poses No Threat to the Persistence of Religion

V. Relevant Disabilities Will Render Religion Baffling

VI. Science is Inherently Social

VII. Science Depends More Fundamentally on Institutional Support Than Religion Does

VIII. Science’s Continued Existence is Fragile

Endnotes

References