skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Evolution of Religious Beliefs

Multimedia ·
OSTI ID:1026346

Humans may be distinguished from all other animals in having beliefs about the causal interaction of physical objects. Causal beliefs are a developmental primitive in human children; animals, by contrast, have very few causal beliefs. The origin of human causal beliefs comes from the evolutionary advantage it gave in relation to complex tool making and use. Causal beliefs gave rise religion and mystical thinking as our ancestors wanted to know the causes of events that affected their lives.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
1026346
Country of Publication:
CERN
Language:
English

Similar Records

Religion as a Natural Phenomenon
Multimedia · Wed Feb 15 00:00:00 EST 2006 · OSTI ID:1026346

Obama Signs New START Treaty With Russians
Multimedia · Fri Apr 09 00:00:00 EDT 2010 · OSTI ID:1026346

Oil and the American Way of Life: Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Multimedia · Wed Apr 22 00:00:00 EDT 2009 · OSTI ID:1026346