Is religion what we want? Motivation and the cultural transmission of religious representations

Shaun Nichols

doi:10.1163/1568537041725079

Is religion what we want? Motivation and the cultural transmission of religious representations

Shaun Nichols

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

Many psychologists and philosophers have suggested that religious ideas emerge because they are motivationally attractive. This paper attempts to support a version of the motivational thesis by relying on religious creeds as a source of historical evidence. This simple source of evidence indicates that the cultural evolution of religious ideas is partly a function of the motivational attractiveness of the religious ideas.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	347-371
Number of pages	25
Journal	Journal of Cognition and Culture
Volume	4
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1163/1568537041725079
State	Published - 2004
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Social Psychology
Cultural Studies
Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)

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10.1163/1568537041725079

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abstract = "Many psychologists and philosophers have suggested that religious ideas emerge because they are motivationally attractive. This paper attempts to support a version of the motivational thesis by relying on religious creeds as a source of historical evidence. This simple source of evidence indicates that the cultural evolution of religious ideas is partly a function of the motivational attractiveness of the religious ideas.",

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Is religion what we want? Motivation and the cultural transmission of religious representations

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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