Veganism is not a religion, and nor is belief in Santa Claus. So why are Christianity, Islam and Buddhism classed as religions?
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Articles on Religious belief
Displaying 1 - 20 of 25 articles
Research suggests people intuitively draw a distinction between what is known and what is believed. Recognizing the difference can help in ideological disagreements.
An evolutionary biologist makes the case that there's no reconciling science and religion. In the search for truth, one tests hypotheses while the other relies on faith.
These psychological adaptations help us to sustain belief in religion.
Towns are embracing their eccentric visitors as a way to boost their struggling economies.
Notions of heaven have changed through the ages, from an eternity centred on God to a more secular place where loved ones will reunite.
Forcing people to separate science and religion can lead to damaging denials of science.
Arguments over religion miss the point that we have religious urges, whether or not we think they are justified.
The founder of Islam, Muhammad, saw himself as the last in a line of prophets that reached back through Jesus to Moses, Abraham and Noah. But while the three religions worship the same God, he divides as much as he unites.
Nigeria must reduce its population growth to increase the quality of life for people in the country. A better knowledge of contraceptives can help achieve this.
The Antill 7: On belief.
The Conversation, CC BY-ND46.9 MB (download)
Four stories on belief: from the allure of cults and conspiracy theories, to the effect of trauma on faith, to the way dogma has influenced science – and if technology can actually shift our beliefs.
Abu Nasr al-Farabi can teach us about the thinking behind radicalisation, and offers a warning to terrorists guilty of 'over-belief'.
Terrorism is a denial of the basic tenets of almost all religions.
What, exactly, are the political goals of The Satanic Temple, which formed in 2013? A religion professor attended a recent satanic ritual to find out.
The prosperity gospel – a uniquely American strand of Christian theology – creates a dilemma for its adherents.
The tradition of republicanism offered us civil religion, a foundation of belief that could counter any politics or policy that demands sacrifice in this world to be compensated in some “beyond”.
How should we celebrate Christmas during a time when religious extremism inspires terrorist attacks and young people are abandoning the church?
The belief in demonic possession – often thought to be a relic of The Dark Ages and the Salem Witch Trials – remains surprisingly mainstream.
Members of a church expect to find mutual support from one another - emotionally and spiritually. This is not the case at the South African branch of The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God.
The furore around freedom of sexual orientation vs religious freedom at a South African university should lead to deeper thinking about Christianity's historical role in promoting liberalism.
Top contributors
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Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Texas State University
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Emeritus Professor in the History of Religious Thought, The University of Queensland
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Chair of Cognitive Psychology, University of Bristol
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John Zerilli is a Friend of The Conversation.
Research Associate, University of Cambridge
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Research Fellow, University of Exeter, University of Exeter
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Senior Lecturer & UG Programme Director, Department of International Politics, City, University of London
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Professor of Natural Philosophy in the Department of Physics, University of York
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Research fellow, Australian National University
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PhD Candidate at the Institute for Social Justice, Australian Catholic University
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Senior Lecturer, University of Strathclyde
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Professor Emeritus of Cognitive NeuroImaging, Aston University
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Assistant researcher, University of Sydney
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Lecturer of Psychology, University of Washington
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Professor of Psychology, Skidmore College
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James McGill Professor of Philosophy and Jewish Studies, McGill University
