Throughout history, the vast majority of people around the globe have believed they have, however defined, a “soul.” While the question of whether the soul exists cannot be answered by science, what we can study are the causes and consequences of various beliefs about the soul and its prospects of surviving the death of the body. Why are soul and afterlife beliefs so common in human history? Are there adaptive advantages to assuming souls exist? Are there brain structures that have been shaped by environmental pressures that provide the foundation of body/mind dualism that is such a prominent feature of many religions? How do these beliefs shape the worldviews of different cultures and our collective lives? What is the role of competing afterlife beliefs in religion, science, politics, and war? This course explores several facets of this relatively unexplored but profoundly important aspect of human thought and behavior.
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Soul Beliefs: Causes and Consequences - Unit 1: Historical Foundations
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Instructors: Prof. Daniel M. Ogilvie
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Reviewed on Nov 1, 2015
I enjoyed the course. It gave a good historical look at the foundations of religion. I'm looking forward to Unit 2.
Reviewed on Aug 9, 2024
I found this course to be very interesting. I appreciated that it included the views of several atheists as well so I could compare and contrast the various arguments.
Reviewed on Dec 1, 2020
We crafted course. Addresses a current real urgent aspect of life that is much needed as we evolve in consciousness. Both the professors were excellent
Recommended if you're interested in Social Sciences
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