Natural-Theological Understanding From Childhood to Adulthood

This volume sheds new light on children's acquisition of the concept of God, repositioning the development of religious understanding as one of the core domains of human cognition. Petrovich's argument- that children are intuitive or everyday natural theologians - is underpinned by new evidence from several studies involving children and adults from very different cultures and religions. In discussing the implications of an early natural-theological theory for cognitive development, the book also considers the practical relevance for children's education, especially in science and in religion. This book will be invaluable for students in developmental psychology, education and theology.

List of contents

Preface
Acknowledgements
Chapter One
Introduction
Chapter Two
Causal understanding: Physical and metaphysical
Chapter Three
Children’s theories: Scientific and non-scientific
Chapter Four
Early ontological knowledge: The world and its contents
Chapter Five
In the beginning: Cosmological reasoning in children and adults
Chapter Six
The natural-theological concept of God: A unique causal agent
Chapter Seven
Theology as a core cognitive domain
Chapter Eight
Innateness of religion within the limits of science alone
Chapter Nine
Conclusions, exclusions and some implications
References
Appendix
Author Index
Subject Index

About the author

Olivera Petrovich is Research Fellow at the University of Oxford in the Department of Experimental Psychology. Her research deals with the origin and development of natural religious understanding across different cultures.

Product details

• Authors: Olivera Petrovich, Olivera (University of Oxford Petrovich, Petrovich Olivera
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 13.09.2018
• EAN: 9781138939448
• ISBN: 978-1-138-93944-8
• No. of pages: 182
• Series: Essays in Developmental Psychology
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Education > General, dictionaries; Non-fiction book > Psychology, esoterics, spirituality, anthroposophy > Psychology: general, reference works; PSYCHOLOGY / Developmental / Child, RELIGION / Psychology of Religion, Religion: general, Child & developmental psychology, Child, developmental and lifespan psychology