Whereas across the globe religious institutions continue to expand, in the Netherlands church membership and church attendance have been steadily declining for several decades. Praying for dinner is no longer commonly practiced but shopping on Sundays is getting ever more popular. Have the Dutch lost their faith with the increasing modernisation and have scientific discoveries replaced the religious worldview? The opposite appears to be true. Where traditional religion disappears, spirituality, mindfulness and the paranormal seem to take over. 

The persisting character of religion and the continuing interest of humans in spiritual, divine, and supernatural matters suggest that religion is not simply transmitted culturally but that religion finds its origin in man itself. This course investigates the psychological mechanisms from which religion may arise and the principles that may be involved in religious experience and belief. The topic will be addressed from various scientific angles ranging from evolutionary psychology to recent discoveries in brain research and cognitive psychology.

The setup of the course is both dynamic and interactive. Class lectures will be given on topics such as the evolution of religion, psychology of religion, neuroscience of mystical experiences, and paranormal belief. In interactive classes we will be watching and discussing a selection of films and documentaries to illuminate fundamental questions about religious and spiritual behaviour. In workgroups course participants will help each other with preparing and reviewing the content and structure of their group essay.