Publication Type

Book Chapter

Version

acceptedVersion

Publication Date

2-2025

Abstract

Religion refers to a structured set of spiritual beliefs and rituals. Evolution refers to the process by which living organisms transform and develop over time. Religion—the belief in spiritual beings—influences nearly every aspect of life, making it challenging to understand many phenomena without considering its influence (Bloom, 2012). About two-thirds of the world’s population is religious (Kramer & Tong, 2024); 70% of Americans consider themselves spiritual, and 83% believe they have a spirit separate from their bodies (PEW Research Center, 2023). Throughout history, religion has played a significant role in conflicts like war and continues to influence contemporary issues such as elections, abortion, and gay marriage laws (Bloom, 2012; Brooks, 2020; Pless et al., 2023). Even today, religious beliefs guide countless personal decisions, especially regarding social relationships et al., 2023). Even today, religious beliefs guide countless personal decisions, especially regarding social relationships like marriage, friendships, and work (Borges et al., 2021). Given its vast influence, understanding why humans readily believe and follow religious tenets is arguably important.

Discipline

Religion | Social Psychology

Research Areas

Psychology

Publication

Encyclopedia of Religious Psychology and Behavior

Editor

T. K. Shackelford

First Page

1

Last Page

6

ISBN

9783031389719

Identifier

10.1007/978-3-031-38971-9_1747-2

Publisher

Springer

City or Country

Cham

Copyright Owner and License

Authors

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-38971-9_1747-2

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