DHS - The Psychology of Believing

Teleological Thinking: Purpose, Gods, and Human Understanding

Teleological thinking, with its focus on purposeand causality, helped early humans explain the world around them. In doing so, they attributed divinepurpose to natural forces, resulting in the creation of gods who governed those forces and oversaw the moral and physical order of the universe. These gods were seen as purposeful agents, helpinghumans understand their existence, their responsibilities, and the meaning behind the world’s events.