New Books in Psychology

Neil Van Leeuwen, "Religion As Make-Believe: A Theory of Belief, Imagination, and Group Identity" (Harvard UP, 2023)

Sep 17, 2024

Neil Van Leeuwen, a scholar specializing in the intersection of psychology and religion, delves into the nuanced distinctions between religious beliefs and ordinary factual beliefs. He introduces the concept of a 'two-map cognitive structure' that combines factual reality with imaginative realms, shaping group identity and social interactions. Van Leeuwen explains how even improbable beliefs play a vital role in fostering community cohesion. The discussion also touches on the psychological dynamics of faith, doubt, and the meaningful role of petitionary prayer within groups.

01:17:12

Episode guests

Neil Van Leeuwen

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Religious beliefs function similarly to imaginative play by using dual cognitive maps that intertwine factual and fictional understandings.

The language surrounding beliefs exposes a fundamental cognitive distinction, as people express 'belief' more frequently in religious contexts than factual ones.

Religious narratives may strengthen group identity and cohesion, even in their absurdities, highlighting the communal ties formed through shared beliefs.

Deep dives

The Nature of Religious Belief

Religious beliefs differ fundamentally from factual beliefs, functioning more like imaginative play rather than being grounded in empirical evidence. This perspective leads to the understanding that while people can acknowledge and articulate the philosophical distinction between fiction and belief, many religious practices mirror imaginative structures. Neil Van Lewin posits that these beliefs are compartmentalized and can exist alongside personal doubts, highlighting how such beliefs serve to reinforce group identity. This suggests that religious credences may operate not as absolute truths but as comfortable imaginations that facilitate social cohesion.

Intro

2min

The Intersection of Personal Experience and Philosophical Inquiry in Understanding Belief

5min

The Cognitive Dynamics of Play

11min

The Layering of Belief: Understanding Factual Foundations

4min

Belief vs. Thought in Religion

16min

The Role of Petitionary Prayer in Personal and Group Dynamics

5min

Navigating Faith and Doubt

18min

Navigating Beliefs in Childhood

12min

It is an intuitive truth that religious beliefs are different from ordinary factual beliefs. We understand that a belief in God or the sacredness of scripture is not the same as believing that the sun will rise again tomorrow or that flipping the switch will turn on the light.

In Religion as Make Believe: A Theory of Belief, Imagination, and Group Identity (Harvard UP, 2023), Neil Van Leeuwen draws on psychological, linguistic, and anthropological evidence to show that psychological mechanisms underlying religious beliefs function like those that enable imaginative play.

When someone pretends, they navigate the world on two levels simultaneously, or as Van Leeuwen describes it, by consulting two maps. The first map is that of factual, mundane reality. The second is a map of the imagined world. This second map is then superimposed on top of the first to create a multi-layered cognitive experience that is consistent with both factual and imaginary understandings.

With this model in mind, we can understand religious belief, which Van Leeuwen terms religious "credence", as a form of make-believe that people use to define their group identity and express values they hold as sacred. Religious communities create a religious-credence map which sits on top of their factual-belief map, creating an experience where ordinary objects and events are rich with sacred and supernatural significance.

Recognizing that our minds process factual and religious beliefs in fundamentally different ways allows us to gain deeper understanding of the complex individual and group psychology of religious faith.

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