To what extent do ‘processes of the mind’, consistent with evolutionary psychology, account for religious experiences involving the Trinity?

From a theistic perspective, this dissertation considers the hypothesis that ‘processes of the mind’, consistent with evolutionary psychology, facilitate subjective experiences of God as Trinity. Christians have for nearly two millennia reported experiences believed to involve the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Such experiences contributed to the hermeneutics that eventually discerned the Nicene Trinity, the concept by which Christians believe they may recognise God. The evolutionary psychology of religion at its current stage of development is often associated with non-theistic conclusions. However, in principle, the theory of evolution and Christianity may be compatible. This dissertation uses the so-called by-product approach, considering whether cognitive or attachment theories can explain the ways in which the human mind facilitates Trinitarian experiences. However, these theories may distort the Trinity’s meaning for Christians, for example by attachment processes focusing on perceived images of God and minimising the Nicene concept. Mentalization is considered. It provides a transtheoretical approach but has been little applied to religion. This dissertation proposes that integrating the model of the mentalizing mind into an evolutionary psychology of religion could offer fresh insights. The model might speculatively be used to offer a theistic account for experiences believed to involve God as Trinity, as well as accounting for some negative or ambivalent human responses to God.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

mres

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

masters

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Year dc:date.issued

2022

Author dc:creator

• Robins, Mark

• BF Seicoleg
• BL Crefydd

Dc Identifier Grantnumber

UWTSD

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.uwtsd.ac.uk:2112