Cognitive Sciences of Atheism

The study of atheism through cognitive science—investigating the cognitive mechanisms that lead to belief or disbelief in deities, the psychological correlates of atheism, and how cognitive biases influence atheist reasoning. It draws on evolutionary psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and developmental psychology to understand why some individuals become atheists while others retain religious beliefs, and whether atheism is a natural cognitive default or a learned override.

Example: “Cognitive sciences of atheism research found that atheists, like believers, show confirmation bias—they selectively recall evidence that supports their worldview, suggesting that rationality is not simply a matter of group membership.”

Cognitive Sciences of Atheism by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal March 24, 2026