The Scientific Refutation of Religion: An Algorithmic Testing of the Epic Cognition Theory (ECT) Framework
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) March 13, 2026 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19003471 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that the Epic Cognition Theory, linking schizoid processes, dream-driven symbolic evolution, and biophotonic communication, offers a coherent and falsifiable scientific account of religion's origins, and that religion is the misinterpretation of an uncontrolled, pathologically rigidified evolutionary symbolic process. Reports that an algorithmic evaluation using eight AI systems assessed the theory's internal consistency and scientific validity. |
Abstract
This paper presents the first systematic attempt to address the origins of religion through a fully scientific and testable framework. Developed over two decades, the Epic Cognition Theory (ECT) integrates insights from neuroscience, quantum biology, and symbolic cognition to explain how religious revelations emerge from measurable cognitive and biophysical mechanisms. Unlike traditional philosophical debates, this study employs an algorithmic evaluation using leading AI systems (Gemini, DeepSeek, Claude, Copilot, ChatGPT, Perplexity, Grok and MetaAI) to assess the internal consistency and scientific validity of the theory. The findings demonstrate that the core propositions of ECT—linking schizoid processes, dream-driven symbolic evolution, and biophotonic communication—form a coherent, falsifiable structure that redefines humanity’s understanding of spiritual experience. The paper argues that religion is the scientific explanation for the misinterpretation of an uncontrolled and pathologically rigidified evolutionary symbolic process, fundamentally replacing the reliance on divine causality. While this document focuses on the theoretical and logical validation of the framework, all experimental protocols and empirical designs (including biophoton measurement, dream-phase neurodynamics, and symbolic epigenetics) are detailed in companion papers available via DOI references. Ultimately, this work represents a milestone in interdisciplinary science—uniting psychology, physics, and biology to explore the deepest roots of human belief, creativity, and consciousness.