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Title: Religion & Cognitive Science
Course Section Number: REL-275-01
Department: Religion
Description: First-Half semster course. Can religious beliefs by adequately analyzed or explained by cognitive science? If so, how and to what extent? If not, why not? These are the questions that this course will address. The relatively new field of cognitive science is the scientific study of the human mind, drawing on fields like psychology, anthropology, archaeology, linguistics, and neuroscience. The course has 3 parts. First, we'll read what some cognitive scientists have to say about religion, e.g. Pascal Boyer, Religion Explained: The Evolutionary Origins of Religious Thought. Second, we'll read some philosophical and theological critiques of these ideas. Third, in light of these critiques, we'll consider their adequacy to the task of analyzing or explaining religious beliefs.
Credits: 0.50
Start Date: August 21, 2024
End Date: October 9, 2024
Meeting Information:
08/22/2024-10/08/2024 Lecture Tuesday, Thursday 09:45AM - 11:00AM, Room to be Announced
Faculty: Blix, David

Course Status

Section Name/Title Status Dept. Capacity Enrolled/
Available/
Waitlist
REL-275-01
Religion & Cognitive Science
OPEN Religion 20 13 / 7 / 0