Is Religion Only Utilitarian? Evolutionary Cognitive Science of Religion Through a Thomistic Lens

The cognitive and evolutionary science of religion has found new and interesting ways to describe and interpret religion and religious behaviour. The main working framework of cognitive and evolutionary approaches considers religion only in the perspective of its usefulness for the survival of the individual or group. We named this "the utilitarian framework of religion." After the introduction into these scientific disciplines, we provided a wider account of religion with the help of saint Thomas Aquinas, that stresses how religion considered as virtue is related not to the sort of behaviour, but to the final end of human life.