Answer the following question in essay form in three to three and a half pages. Your essays must be double spaced, use twelve point font, and have one inch margins. You should include an introduction and a conclusion and indent each and every paragraph. Each paragraph after your introduction should contain a clear topic sentence and supporting arguments and examples where these are appropriate.
We have been discussing Pascal Boyers’ evolutionary account of why human beings are predisposed to think of the world and respond to it in religious ways. The following questions are drawn from the portions of Boyer we have covered thus far.
In chapter one Boyer criticizes the theory that religious belief is widespread because people want explanations for events they don’t understand. What are some of Boyer’s specific criticisms of this view?
In chapter one, Swinburne criticizes the theory that religious belief is widespread because it provides comfort. What are some of Boyer’s specific criticisms of this view?
In chapter two Boyer argues that successful religious ideas are easy to transmit because they have two specific traits. Identify those two traits and explain why each of them facilitates easy transmission. Your answer should make use of the notion “inference”.