Kids Steeped In Religion Have Trouble Telling Fact From Fiction
A study published in the July issue of Cognitive Science determined that children who are not exposed to religious stories are better able to tell that characters in “fantastical stories” are fictional — whereas children raised in a religious environment even “approach unfamiliar, fantastical stories flexibly.”
In “Judgments About Fact and Fiction by Children From Religious and Nonreligious Backgrounds,” Kathleen Corriveau, Eva Chen, and Paul Harris demonstrate that children typically have a “sensitivity to the implausible or magical elements in a narrative,” and can determine whether the characters in the narrative are real or fictional by references to fantastical elements within the narrative, such as “invisible sails” or “a sword that protects you from danger every time.”
However, children raised in households in which religious narratives are frequently encountered do not treat those narratives with the same skepticism. The authors believed that these children would “think of them as akin to fairy tales,” judging “the events described in them as implausible or magical and conclude that the protagonists in such narratives are only pretend.”
And yet, “this prediction is likely to be wrong,” because “with appropriate testimony from adults” in religious households, children “will conceive of the protagonist in such narratives as a real person — even if the narrative includes impossible events.”
You can check out the full study here.
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By: dave-dr-gonzo
David Hirsch, a.k.a. Dave "Doctor" Gonzo*, is a renegade record producer, video producer, writer, reformed corporate shill, and still-registered lobbyist for non-one-percenter performing artists and musicians. He lives in a heavily fortified compound in one of Manhattan's less trendy neighborhoods.
* Hirsch is the third person to use the pseudonym, a not-so-veiled tribute to journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson, with the permission of his predecessors Gene Gaudette of American Politics Journal (currently webmaster and chief bottlewasher at Liberaland) and Stephen Meese at Smashmouth Politics.
26 responses to Kids Steeped In Religion Have Trouble Telling Fact From Fiction
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JMax July 19th, 2014 at 12:37
Duh.
JMax July 19th, 2014 at 12:37
Duh.
Eric Trommater July 19th, 2014 at 13:09
I will defer to Mr. Maher on this issue:
Eric Trommater July 19th, 2014 at 13:09
I will defer to Mr. Maher on this issue:
TrUTH July 19th, 2014 at 13:36
You blithering morons!
Talibandrew Breitbot July 19th, 2014 at 15:10
I know you are, but what am I?
TrUTH July 19th, 2014 at 13:36
You blithering morons!
Talibandrew Breitbot July 19th, 2014 at 15:10
I know you are, but what am I?
Dwendt44 July 19th, 2014 at 14:28
No surprise. The religions use words like ‘miracle’ instead of ‘magic’.
Many, maybe most, children are allowed if not taught to believe in the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny, and Santa Claus. As they grow older, those imaginary beings are allowed to fade. Jesus and god are different. That myth is reinforced repeatedly. Any doubt openly expressed is punished. Any fact that doesn’t fit the narrative is ignored or belittled. The rituals and ornate trappings are used to support and reinforce the beliefs.
Dwendt44 July 19th, 2014 at 14:28
No surprise. The religions use words like ‘miracle’ instead of ‘magic’.
Many, maybe most, children are allowed if not taught to believe in the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny, and Santa Claus. As they grow older, those imaginary beings are allowed to fade. Jesus and god are different. That myth is reinforced repeatedly. Any doubt openly expressed is punished. Any fact that doesn’t fit the narrative is ignored or belittled. The rituals and ornate trappings are used to support and reinforce the beliefs.
Bunya July 19th, 2014 at 16:39
They’re not having trouble telling fact from fiction. They’re retarded. It comes from years of having the 10 commandments beaten into them by religious zealots.
Bunya July 19th, 2014 at 16:39
They’re not having trouble telling fact from fiction. They’re retarded. It comes from years of having the 10 commandments beaten into them by religious zealots.
fancypants July 19th, 2014 at 17:19
Believe it or not, Christianity is not about good people getting better. If anything, it is good news for bad people coping with their failure to be good.
Tullian Tchividjian
Dwendt44 July 19th, 2014 at 19:18
Perhaps.
You certainly don’t need god to be good.
fancypants July 19th, 2014 at 19:32
cant say I got along with the bible thumpers OR wanted to play their game..
fancypants July 19th, 2014 at 17:19
Believe it or not, Christianity is not about good people getting better. If anything, it is good news for bad people coping with their failure to be good.
Tullian Tchividjian
Dwendt44 July 19th, 2014 at 19:18
Perhaps.
You certainly don’t need god to be good.
fancypants July 19th, 2014 at 19:32
cant say I got along with the bible thumpers OR wanted to play their game..
mmaynard119 July 19th, 2014 at 21:13
I have found a video of the person who could best explain this phenomena.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXFTG893daM
mmaynard119 July 19th, 2014 at 21:13
I have found a video of the person who could best explain this phenomena.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXFTG893daM
Pundit456 July 20th, 2014 at 16:39
If this theory had a comprehensive application it might be credible. However, the use of the word fictional is obviously intended to denigrate Christians and Christianity.
If you substitute the word reality for fact, the theory fails to explain so called transgender people, who make claims with no discernible basis in reality nor any empirical evidence to support them; or explain how transgenders come to embrace those delusions even if they were not “steeped in religion”.
In fact one could infer that children not exposed to religion are more likely to suffer profound confusion about gender, biology and sexuality; and are more likely to adopt adult lifestyles of depravity, perversion and predatory behavior.
Dwendt44 July 20th, 2014 at 16:58
Now that’s just total nonsense.
Pundit456 July 20th, 2014 at 16:39
If this theory had a comprehensive application it might be credible. However, the use of the word fictional is obviously intended to denigrate Christians and Christianity.
If you substitute the word reality for fact, the theory fails to explain so called transgender people, who make claims with no discernible basis in reality nor any empirical evidence to support them; or explain how transgenders come to embrace those delusions even if they were not “steeped in religion”.
In fact one could infer that children not exposed to religion are more likely to suffer profound confusion about gender, biology and sexuality; and are more likely to adopt adult lifestyles of depravity, perversion and predatory behavior.
Dwendt44 July 20th, 2014 at 16:58
Now that’s just total nonsense.
The Lochnar July 23rd, 2014 at 18:01
This applies to anyone who believes without evidence. For example – adults who tout conspiracy theories including GMO, alternate energy, 9/11, illuminati, aliens on Mars etc. claims suffer the same fate. These people were children once and have not learned critical thinking. The delusional thought problem that is the biggest contributor to world suffering is evidenced everywhere you look.
The Lochnar July 23rd, 2014 at 18:01
This applies to anyone who believes without evidence. For example – adults who tout conspiracy theories including GMO, alternate energy, 9/11, illuminati, aliens on Mars etc. claims suffer the same fate. These people were children once and have not learned critical thinking. The delusional thought problem that is the biggest contributor to world suffering is evidenced everywhere you look.