The cognitive science of religion is an inherently heterogeneous subject, incorporating theory and data from anthropology, psychology, sociology, evolutionary biology, and philosophy of mind amongst other subjects. One increasingly influential area of research in this field is concerned specifically with exploring the relationship between the evolution of the human mind, the evolution of culture in general, and the origins and subsequent development of religion. This research has exerted a strong influence on many areas of religious studies over the last twenty years, but, for some, the so-called "evolutionary cognitive science of religion" remains a deeply problematic enterprise. This book's primary aim is to engage critically and constructively with this complex and diverse body of research from a wide range of perspectives. To these ends, the book brings together authors from a variety of relevant disciplines, in the thorough exploration of many of the key debates in the field. These include, for example: can certain aspects of religion be considered adaptive, or are they evolutionary by-products? Is the evolutionary cognitive science of religion compatible with theism? Is the evolutionary cognitive approach compatible with other, more traditional approaches to the study of religion? To what extent is religion shaped by cultural evolutionary processes? Is the evolutionary account of the mind that underpins the evolutionary cognitive approach the best or only available account? Written in accessible language, with an introductory chapter by Ilkka Pyssiainen, a leading scholar in the field, this book is a valuable resource for specialists, undergraduate and graduate students, and newcomers to the evolutionary cognitive science of religion.

Evolution, Religion, and Cognitive Science: Critical and Constructive Essays

Health, Fitness & Dieting

Watts, Fraser

Turner, Leon P.

Psychology & Counseling

Oxford University Press

The body is crucial to religious life, but there has been little practical attention to how to make a helpful reality of this fact. Strong forms of philosophical dualism have been widely abandoned by post-war theologians in favour of a more integrated view of human nature, but guidance on the role of the body in Christian spirituality remains fragmentary.Focusing particularly on drawing out practical implications for religious life and ministry, this book will survey the many ways in which the body plays an important role in religions and spiritual life, drawing on scientific research, theology and philosophy.

A Plea for Embodied Spirituality: The Role of the Body in Religion

Religion & Spirituality

Christian Books & Bibles

Scm Pr

Psychology for Christian Ministry

This introduction to psychology has been devised for those training for and working in the clergy. Ideal both as a professional handbook and a textbook, it covers social, developmental, educational, occupational and counselling psychology, as well as the psychology of religion. It carefully considers the processes of personal change and growth central to religion.

Nye, Rebecca

Savage, Sara

Routledge

The Psychology of Religious Knowing

The book seeks to describe the psychological processes that are involved in arriving at religious knowledge. The view that direct knowledge is impossible in the religious domain, only 'faith' possible, is rejected. It is argued that the ways in which people come to know other things, in particular how people arrive at personal insights, is close at many points to how they arrive at religious insights. The psychological processes involved in religious knowing are described in the terminology of contemporary cognitive psychology.

Williams, Mark

Religious Studies

Cambridge University Press

The book seeks to describe the psychological processes that are involved in arriving at religious knowledge. The view that direct knowledge is impossible in the religious domain, only 'faith' possible, is rejected. It is argued that the ways in which people come to know other things, in particular how people arrive at personal insights, is close at many points to how they arrive at religious insights. The psychological processes involved in religious knowing are described in the terminology of contemporary cognitive psychology.

Living Deeply

Lutterworth Press

Theology and Psychology (Routledge Science and Religion Series)

Many people are now interested in the relationship between religion and science, but links between Christian belief and psychology have been relatively neglected. This book opens up the dialogue between Christian theology and modern scientific psychology, approaching the dialogue in both directions. Current scientific topics like consciousness and artificial intelligence are examined from a religious perspective. Christian themes such as God's purposes and activity in the world are then examined in the light of psychology. This accessible study on psychology and Christian belief offers students and general readers alike important insights into new areas of the 'science and religion' debate. Fraser Watts is Starbridge Lecturer in Theology and Natural Science at the University of Cambridge, UK, and author of many books including Christians and Bioethics (SPCK); Science Meets Faith (SPCK), Psychology for Christian Ministry (Routledge), and The Psychology of Religious Knowing (CUP).

In Metaphysics as Christology, Jonael Schickler presents a major contribution to both philosophy and theology. First he examines the key philosophical problems with which Kant and Hegel grappled, and finds in the work of Rudolf Steiner the essence of a solution to them; he claims that Steiner returned to Hegel's philosophical problems but was better able to solve them. Schickler uses these philosophical debates about knowledge and truth to understand the significance of Christ. Building on the work of Hegel, Schickler argues that Christ has made possible the developments in human consciousness that restore humanity's relationship to the surrounding world. This is a bold and rigorous work that opens up new directions in both philosophy and theology. Fraser Watts contributes the Foreword and George Pattison an extensive Preface.

Metaphysics as Christology: An Odyssey of the Self from Kant and Hegel to Steiner (Routledge New Critical Thinking in Religion, Theology and Biblical Studies)

Schickler, Jonael

Metaphysics as Christology (Routledge New Critical Thinking in Religion, Theology and Biblical Studies)

Psychology, Religion, and Spirituality provides readers with a critical overview of what psychology tells us about religion and spirituality. It is concise without being simplistic, and the first such broad overview to be published for some years. Fraser Watts recognizes that 'religion' is complex and multi-faceted, taking different forms in different people and contexts. The book presents a broad view of psychology; whatever kind of psychology you are interested in, you will find it covered here, from biological to social, and from experimental to psychoanalytic. It focuses particularly on the varied concepts that psychologists have employed to make sense of religion and subjects them to critical examination. The book is also concerned with practical applications, helping those engaged in religious ministry. It will be of interest to undergraduates and general readers, as well as specialists in religious studies, psychology, and philosophy of religion.

Psychology, Religion, and Spirituality: Concepts and Applications (Cambridge Studies in Religion, Philosophy, and Society)

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Watts, Fraser. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Watts, Fraser

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Watts, Fraser. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Evolution, Religion, and Cognitive Science: Critical and Constructive Essays

A Plea for Embodied Spirituality: The Role of the Body in Religion

Psychology for Christian Ministry

The Psychology of Religious Knowing

The Psychology of Religious Knowing

Living Deeply

Theology and Psychology (Routledge Science and Religion Series)

Metaphysics as Christology: An Odyssey of the Self from Kant and Hegel to Steiner (Routledge New Critical Thinking in Religion, Theology and Biblical Studies)

Metaphysics as Christology (Routledge New Critical Thinking in Religion, Theology and Biblical Studies)

Psychology, Religion, and Spirituality: Concepts and Applications (Cambridge Studies in Religion, Philosophy, and Society)