Year 8 - Religious education
Cognitive science of religion
Psychology: is our brain designed to believe?
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Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit there is a choice. Through a social science lens, pupils consider how psychologists analyse the phenomenon of religion. Or they may study the flowering of philosophy at the time of the Enlightenment through a depth study of Hobbes and Rousseau and their ideas of religion and society.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe how religious ideas are widespread across cultures and times and explain why the human mind may be likely to accept them.
Key Notes
- Psychologists study the mind and behaviours.
- Religious ideas are widespread across cultures and times.
- The human mind seems to be programmed to accept religious ideas.
- Evolution may have played a part in this programming.
Vocabulary To Learn
- psychology: the scientific study of the mind and behaviour
- agent detection: when an animal or human assumes another being is causing a natural event
- cognitive science: the scientific study of how the mind works, functions and behaves
- supernatural: something that exists beyond the laws of nature
- superstition: a widely held but irrational belief in supernatural influences such as good and bad luck being caused by behaviours
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- That psychological explanations for religion mean there is no "God" or a Higher Power.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
Psychologists study the mind and behaviours. Religious ideas are widespread across cultures and times.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'psychology'
the scientific study of the mind and behaviour.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: That psychological explanations for religion mean there is no "God" or a Higher Power. Correction: Psychological explanations can support faith as they can show how "God" or a Higher Power has designed the brain to believe.
More Lessons In This Unit
Browse all guides in the Year 8 Religious education guide library.