Towards an Evolutionary Science of Sacred Architecture: When Atmosphere Meets Narrative
Religions November 26, 2025 Michael Anthony Arbib
This paper forwards the claim that our early human ancestors had protosacred experiences long before they had languages, architecture, or religions. A mountain may create feelings of awe while a grove in the forest may create feelings of serenity. In some circumstances (and very much dependent on the mental set of the individual), such protosacred experiences may create a sense of ultimacy that...