Petrovich Natural-Theological Understanding from Childhood to Adulthood

1. Auflage 2018
ISBN: 978-1-317-38075-7
Verlag: CRC Press
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 182 Seiten

Reihe: Essays in Developmental Psychology

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.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Petrovich, Olivera

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Psychologie Allgemeine Psychologie Entwicklungspsychologie Kinder- und Jugendpsychologie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1. Introduction: "Natural theology": Past and present 2. Causal understanding in human development: Physical and metaphysical 3. Early ontological knowledge: The world and its contents 4. Origins of things: Teleological and cosmological understanding in causal development 5. Theology as a core domain: Children’s conjectures and justifications 6. Key theological properties of the natural concept of God 7. Conclusion: Current implications and future directions

Über Autor(innen)

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