The cognitive science of religion : a methodological introduction to key imperical studies Acknowledgements List of Contributors Student Introduction Jason Slone (Georgia Southern University USA) and William W. McCorkle Jr. (Masaryk University Czech Republic) Instructor Introduction William W. McCorkle Jr. (Masaryk University Czech Republic) and Jason Slone (Georgia Southern University USA) 1. Why Do We See Supernatural Signs in Natural Events Jesse Bering (University of Otago New Zealand) 2. What Do We Think About God When We Arent Careful Justin Barrett (Fuller Theological Seminary USA) 3. What Do People Think Omniscient Agents Know Benjamin Purzycki (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Germany) and Richard Sosis (University of Connecticut USA) 4. Do Children Attribute Beliefs to Humans and God Differently Mitch Hodge (Queens University UK and LEVYNA Czech Republic) 5. Which God is Watching Rita Anne McNamara (Victoria University of Wellington New Zealand) 6. Do People Think the Soul is Separate from the Body and Mind Rebekah Richert (University of California Riverside USA) and Kirsten Lesage (University of California Riverside USA) 7. Were Early Chinese Thinkers Folk Dualists Edward Slingerland (University of British Columbia Canada) 8. How Do People Establish Personal Identity in Reincarnation Claire White (California State University Northridge USA) 9. Is Memory Crucial for Transmission of Religious Ideas Michaela Porubanova (Farmingdale State College USA) 10. What Types of Concepts Make for Great Religious Stories Ryan Tweney (Bowling Green State University USA) 11. How do Religious Environments Affect our Behavior Dimitris Xygalatas (University of Connecticut USA) 12. Can We Model Religious Behavior Using Computer Simulation Justin Lane (LEVYNA Czech Republic) and LeRon Shults (University of Agder Norway) 13. Does God Make You Good Azim Shariff (University of California Riverside USA) and Ara Norenzayani (University of British Columbia Canada) 14. Do We Outsource Police Work to God Azim Shariff and Kristin Laurin (University of British Columbia Canada) 15. Do Religions Promote Cooperation Testing Signaling Theories of Religion Richard Sosis (University of Connecticut USA) 16. Do Rituals Promote Social Cohesion Dimitris Xygalatas (University of Connecticut USA 17. Are Muslim Costly Signals Christian Caution Signs Deborah Hall (Arizona State University USA) Erik Porter(Arizona State University USA) and Richard Grove (University of North Dakota USA) 18. Is Ritual Behavior a Response to Anxiety Martin Lang (Masaryk University Czech Republic) Jan Krátký (Masaryk University Czech Republic) John Shaver (University of Otago New Zealand) Danijela Jerotijevic (Comenius University Slovakia) and Dimitris Xygalatas (University of Connecticut USA) 19. Can Rituals Reduce Stress During War The Magic of Psalms Richard Sosis (University of Connecticut USA) 20. Does Praying Resemble Normal Interpersonal Interaction Uffe Schjoedt (Aarhus University Denmark) 21. How are Rituals Thought to Work Brian Malley (University of Michigan USA) 22. How do Humans Process Ritualized Actions Jesper Sorensen Schjoedt (Aarhus University Denmark) and Kristoffer Nielbo (Aarhus University Denmark) 23. Did Ritualized Human Sacrifice Help Build and Sustain Social Inequality Joseph Watts (Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History Germany and University of Oxford UK) Oliver Sheehan(Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History Germany) Quentin Atkinson (Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History Germany and University of Auckland New Zealand) Joseph Bulbulia (University of Auckland New Zealand) and Russell Gray (University of Auckland New Zealand) References Index. The Cognitive Science of Religion introduces students to key empirical studies conducted over the past 25 years in this new and rapidly expanding field. In these studies cognitive scientists of religion have applied the theories findings and research tools of the cognitive sciences to understanding religious thought behaviour and social dynamics. Each chapter is written by a leading international scholar and summarizes in non technical language the original empirical study conducted by the scholar. No prior or statistical knowledge is presumed and studies included range from the classic to the more recent and innovative cases. Students will learn about the theories that cognitive scientists have employed to explain recurrent features of religiosity across cultures and historical eras how scholars have tested those theories and what the results of those tests have revealed and suggest. Written to be accessible to undergraduates this provides a much needed survey of empirical studies in the cognitive science of religion. Bloomsbury Publishing