Using findings from the cognitive science of religion to understand current conflicts between religious and scientific ideologies

ABSTRACT

The body of research looking at the public understanding and acceptance of science has been growing in recent years. Here, we argue that religiosity is one important factor influencing the perception and understanding of science and scientific information. In the present article, we review recent literature with the goal of answering three questions: what is the relationship between science and religion, when do science and religion conflict, and why do these conflicts exist? To answer these questions, we turn to research from the cognitive science of religion. Specifically, we argue that, while some conflicts between religion and science result from moral and epistemological contradictions, these conflicts also stem partially from cognitive mechanisms underpinning religious beliefs and scientific understanding. We review research suggesting that the same cognitive processes responsible for religious and supernatural beliefs may contribute to the rejection of science. We discuss this evidence in terms of its social and scientific implications, how it can inform our understanding of the relationship between religion and science, and how it can guide future study on this important topic.

KEYWORDS:

• Religion
• science
• review
• cognitive science of religion

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to Miron Zuckerman for his comments on this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Jonathon McPhetres http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6370-7789