ABSTRACT
This chapter is based on the hypothesis that believing is brought about by fundamental brain processes that can be the object of neurophysiological investigation. Bridging the gap between human brainwork and the notion of religion is thereby made possible. The cerebral processes underlying believing take place in individuals in relation to their perception and valuation of objects and events. The resulting probabilistic representations in the brain enable us to generate appropriate behavior and to predict events. On the level of personal interactions, these processes are grounded in empathy, theory of mind and language that develop during infancy and childhood. In the social domain, the constituents of believing are propositions provided to the individuals by narratives and subjective meanings that individuals associate with them. The subjective relevance of narratives is reinforced by ritual activity, which is practiced in families, groups and societies. Thereupon, sense of in-group belonging, safety and the meaning of life is built up in individuals, since these narratives figure as potent forces for the formation of cultures, from prehistory onward. Emerging evidence from cross-cultural social neuroscience studies suggests that the neurobiological machinery in the human brain appears suitable for forming a variety of cultural products, including religious beliefs.
