What (if anything) should Christian theology learn from the cognitive science of religion?

Neil Messer

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    Abstract

    This article asks what, if anything, Christian theology should learn from the cognitive science of religion (CSR). Two possible answers are explored. The first is that Christian theology has nothing to learn from CSR. This is rejected in favour of the second: theology can learn from CSR by appropriating CSR insights carefully and critically to a theological understanding formed first and foremost by Scripture. Karl Barth’s theological critique of religion and his engagement with Ludwig Feuerbach are used as a model for this approach. The article concludes with specific proposals about how, and how not, to engage theologically with CSR.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)504-519
    Number of pages16
    JournalTheology and Science
    Volume21
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 19 Jul 2023

    Keywords

    • Christian theology
    • Justin Barrett
    • Karl Barth
    • Ludwig Feuerbach
    • Peter Harrison
    • cognitive science of religion

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