Michael James Winkelman

Supernatural as Natural

Supernatural as Natural

This book provides a general introduction to the biological and evolutionary bases of religion and is suitable for courses in the anthropology and psychology of religion and comparative religion, as well as for anyone who want to understand the relationship of religious impulses to human nature.

Why did humans of all cultures adopt religious beliefs and customs? Why are there such substantial similarities in religious practices and beliefs across cultures? Why does religion persist in the face of science and rationality?

The presence and persistence of many religious features across the world and time indicates that it is natural for humans to believe in the supernatural, that religion is part of human nature. In this text, the authors explore both the biological and cultural dimensions of religion and the evolutionary origins of religious features.