Contemporary scientific explanations of religion: A methodological and philosophical analysis

宗教是人性的进化特征，这一观点在正在进行的文化战争中扮演着关键角色，这场战争的一方批评科学世界观的某些方面，特别是进化论，另一方则承担起捍卫科学、抵御宗教威胁的责任，尤其是所谓的“新无神论者”媒体明星。分析自然主义对宗教的解释提出的哲学和方法论问题，将澄清在澳大利亚这样一个多元化和以世俗主义为主的社会中科学和宗教之间的潜在关系，在澳大利亚，科学的主张被赋予了特殊的权威。

The idea that religion is an evolved feature of human nature plays a key role in the ongoing culture war between those critical of some aspects of the scientific worldview, especially the theory of evolution, and those who take it upon themselves to defend science against the perceived threat of religion, notably the so-called 'new atheist' media stars. Analysing the philosophical and methodological issues raised by naturalistic explanations of religion will clarify the potential relationships between science and religion in a pluralist and predominantly secularist society like Australia in which the claims of science are accorded a special authority.