Religion as make-believe : a theory of belief, imagination, and group identity / Neil Van Leeuwen.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Van Leeuwen, Neil, 1978- author.

Contributor:

Class of 1932 Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Psychology, Religious.

Belief and doubt.

Imagination (Philosophy).

Group identity.

Values--Religious aspects.

Values.

Faith and reason.

psychology of religion.

group identity.

Physical Description:

300 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Massachusetts ; London, England ; Harvard University Press, 2023.

Summary:

"Drawing on a range of hard evidence, Neil Van Leeuwen shows that the psychological mechanisms underlying religious belief are the same as those enabling imaginative play. He argues that we should therefore understand religious belief as a form of make-believe that people use to define their group identity and express the values dearest to them."-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Prologue. The Parable of the Playground

The Attitude Dimension

A Theory of Cognitive Attitudes

Religious Credence Is Not Factual Belief

Evidence Around the World

To "Believe" Is Not What You "Think"

Identity and Groupish Belief

Sacred Values

The Puzzle of Religious Rationality

Epilogue. The Playground Expanded

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 273-289) and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Class of 1932 Fund.

Other Format:

Online version: Van Leeuwen, Neil, 1978- Religion as Make-Believe.

ISBN:

9780674290334

067429033X

OCLC:

1369677753