<p>In <a href="https://cogsci.stackexchange.com/q/774/2516">this question</a> they talk about how animals can develop rituals that they thing have some influence in a particular outcome, when in reality there isn't a real connection whatsoever between the performed ritual and the reward they expect as an outcome.</p>

<p>So, I'm curious about whether there are similar studies involving religion.</p>

<p><strong>Update</strong></p>

<p>Let's say we have the soccer players that make the sign of the cross over them before the match begins, and the pigeon that make a circled counter-clockwise before the food is dropped, I'm not sure if I can draw a line separating superstition from religion in that case.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-23T06:23:29.173Z
Not sure I follow ... are you asking about evidence of religious beliefs in animals?
Arnon Weinberg
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-23T11:51:21.180Z
@ArnonWeinberg I've updated the question with an example, thanks.
rraallvv
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-23T14:49:38.777Z
There are countless thousands of superstitions that arise out of people trying to project/protect illusion of control over the chaotic world. Higher religions typically arise out of mystical experiences, for example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_helmet  I'm sure such experiences are neither available to animals nor can be fully interpreted by them
Alex Stone
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-23T16:24:47.080Z
I believe the question is whether religious behaviors in humans, like the soccer play making a cross before the match, can be explained in the same way as animals developing rituals.
Josh
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-05T18:55:52.767Z
@Josh I agree, but until an edit is made to the question, it risks being closed as being "unclear"
Seanny123
<reference-request><behaviorism>
Are there studies about religious belief similar to the ones about superstition among animals?
rraallvv
# Are there studies about religious belief similar to the ones about superstition among animals?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-09-22)

In [this question](https://cogsci.stackexchange.com/q/774/2516) they talk about how animals can develop rituals that they thing have some influence in a particular outcome, when in reality there isn't a real connection whatsoever between the performed ritual and the reward they expect as an outcome.

So, I'm curious about whether there are similar studies involving religion.

**Update**

Let's say we have the soccer players that make the sign of the cross over them before the match begins, and the pigeon that make a circled counter-clockwise before the food is dropped, I'm not sure if I can draw a line separating superstition from religion in that case.

**Tags:** reference-request, behaviorism

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Not sure I follow ... are you asking about evidence of religious beliefs in animals?  
> **username_0**: @ArnonWeinberg I've updated the question with an example, thanks.  
> **username_2**: There are countless thousands of superstitions that arise out of people trying to project/protect illusion of control over the chaotic world. Higher religions typically arise out of mystical experiences, for example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_helmet  I'm sure such experiences are neither available to animals nor can be fully interpreted by them  
> **username_3**: I believe the question is whether religious behaviors in humans, like the soccer play making a cross before the match, can be explained in the same way as animals developing rituals.  
> **username_4**: @username_3 I agree, but until an edit is made to the question, it risks being closed as being "unclear"  

---

## 0 answers

