PERCEPTION OF GOD IN THE LIGHT OF THE COGNITIVE SCIENCE OF RELIGION:

AN OVERVIEW OF THEORY AND EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE

Resumo

The present work emerges as a critical-reflective proposal on how the classical theme of the Gods can be approached in the light of the Cognitive Science of Religion, whether in its theoretical aspects or concerning its methodological bases of investigation. To this end, the main perspectives of the study of the Cognitive Psychology of Religion were initially outlined, with a particular emphasis on the Cognitive Science of Religion (CCR), with its main epistemological and methodological characteristics. In a second moment, the theme of the Gods was briefly addressed, and how it can be explored under this prism of investigation. Then, empirical research in the field of CCR on the perception of God within the perspective of the Theory of Mind, the cultural context, and neurotheology were presented. Finally, from the empirical literature analyzed, the main theoretical and methodological links currently adopted are discussed, as well as the main directions for future work.