Critique and Survey of Evolutionary Religious Studies (ERS)

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Soltanzadeh, Ali | 2019

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Type of Document: M.Sc. Thesis
Language: Farsi
Document No: 51841 (42)
University: Sharif University of Technology
Department: Philosophy of Science
Advisor(s): Hosseini, Hassan
Abstract:
One of the important questions in religious studies, is that why many people are religious or at least have tendency to religion. Some thinkers believe that religious experiences can be explained appropriately by methods based on natural sciences. In fact, we can explain religious experiences and beliefs by accepting naturalistic view. Evolutionary religious studies (ERS) is one of these doctrines about the root of religion, which claims that human nature and mind are the most important factors in religious actions and beliefs. So in order to find better knowledge about religion, we must study human mind. Human mind and nature are made through natural selection; so what is basic in religion is a natural category. But some criticize this view and believe that evolutionary religious studies can't recognize and explain religious cultural plural. They believe that we can't reduce religion to biological factors, because religion is a cultural phenomenon and in cultural studies, explanation doesn't work for knowing culture, instead we should understand it. Besides, evolutionary religious studies can't recognize influence of society on human life
Keywords:
Naturalism ; Evolution ; Darwinism ; Religious Studies ; Anthropology

No TOC