Kognitionswissenschaftliche und ethologische Modelle der Religionsentstehung

During the last years, the application of cognitive theory inspired the old question about the origin of religion again. Whilst prominent theories deal with the brain's structure and function and its meaning for the emergence of religion, they remain deficient in respect to the historical dimension of religions. Under consideration of the historical dimensions as well as the results of cognitive ethology, religion emerged from a set of defending gestures and signs together with concern and care for the dead. Especially the so-called heraldic women with their combination of threatening and appeasing signals banish evil forces. By doing so they are so effective, that they develop a life of their own: The protecting figure becomes a protective supernatural being. -- The historical development of this supernatural being from a heraldic woman to a guardian of the home and hearth on the one hand, and to the goddess of the cairns on the other hand, and, finally, to the goddesses of the ancient world goes according to rules of religious evolution as discussed elsewhere.