Processes of believing: Where do they come from? What are they good for? [version 2; referees: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]
Despite the long scholarly discourse in Western theology and philosophy on religion, spirituality, and faith, explanations of what a belief and what believing is are still lacking. Recently, cognitive neuroscience research addressed the human capacity of believing. We present evidence suggesting tha...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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F1000 Research Ltd
2017-01-01
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| Series: | F1000Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://f1000research.com/articles/5-2573/v2 |
| _version_ | 1818882519139876864 |
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| author | Rüdiger J. Seitz Raymond F. Paloutzian Hans-Ferdinand Angel |
| author_facet | Rüdiger J. Seitz Raymond F. Paloutzian Hans-Ferdinand Angel |
| author_sort | Rüdiger J. Seitz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Despite the long scholarly discourse in Western theology and philosophy on religion, spirituality, and faith, explanations of what a belief and what believing is are still lacking. Recently, cognitive neuroscience research addressed the human capacity of believing. We present evidence suggesting that believing is a human brain function which results in probabilistic representations with attributes of personal meaning and value and thereby guides individuals’ behavior. We propose that the same mental processes operating on narratives and rituals constitute belief systems in individuals and social groups. Our theoretical model of believing is suited to account for secular and non-secular belief formation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T15:19:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ffb8ca3bad31403b802fcd370a1fd434 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2046-1402 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T15:19:03Z |
| publishDate | 2017-01-01 |
| publisher | F1000 Research Ltd |
| record_format | Article |
| series | F1000Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-ffb8ca3bad31403b802fcd370a1fd4342022-12-21T20:16:03ZengF1000 Research LtdF1000Research2046-14022017-01-01510.12688/f1000research.9773.211458Processes of believing: Where do they come from? What are they good for? [version 2; referees: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]Rüdiger J. Seitz0Raymond F. Paloutzian1Hans-Ferdinand Angel2Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, LVR-Klinikum Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, GermanyWestmont College, St. Barbara, USAInstitute of Catechetic and Pedagogic of Religion, Karl Franzens University Graz, Graz, AustriaDespite the long scholarly discourse in Western theology and philosophy on religion, spirituality, and faith, explanations of what a belief and what believing is are still lacking. Recently, cognitive neuroscience research addressed the human capacity of believing. We present evidence suggesting that believing is a human brain function which results in probabilistic representations with attributes of personal meaning and value and thereby guides individuals’ behavior. We propose that the same mental processes operating on narratives and rituals constitute belief systems in individuals and social groups. Our theoretical model of believing is suited to account for secular and non-secular belief formation.https://f1000research.com/articles/5-2573/v2Cognitive Neuroscience |
| spellingShingle | Rüdiger J. Seitz Raymond F. Paloutzian Hans-Ferdinand Angel Processes of believing: Where do they come from? What are they good for? [version 2; referees: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations] F1000Research Cognitive Neuroscience |
| title | Processes of believing: Where do they come from? What are they good for? [version 2; referees: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations] |
| title_full | Processes of believing: Where do they come from? What are they good for? [version 2; referees: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations] |
| title_fullStr | Processes of believing: Where do they come from? What are they good for? [version 2; referees: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations] |
| title_full_unstemmed | Processes of believing: Where do they come from? What are they good for? [version 2; referees: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations] |
| title_short | Processes of believing: Where do they come from? What are they good for? [version 2; referees: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations] |
| title_sort | processes of believing where do they come from what are they good for version 2 referees 2 approved 1 approved with reservations |
| topic | Cognitive Neuroscience |
| url | https://f1000research.com/articles/5-2573/v2 |
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