Essays in Philosophy of Religion (Jostarhaye Falsafeh Din)

Pilgrimage from the Perspective of Cognitive Sciences; Convergence of Evolutionary, Neurological and Spatial Perspectives

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Mehrnaz Bashizadeh Moghaddam 1
Seyed Shahabodin Oudi 2
Meisam Fasihi Ramandi 3

1 Assistant Professor of Department of Commentary of the Quran, Faculty of Sciences & Knowledge of the Quran, Quran and Hadith University, Qom, Iran

2 Ph.D. Graduate in Religious Studies, Faculty of Religions, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran.

3 Department of Philosophy of Religion, Ph.D. Student, College of Farabi, University of Tehran, Qom, Iran.

Abstract
The concept of "pilgrimage", denoted by the Arabic term "ziyarat" (Ibn Manzoor, 1414: 335/4), signifies the act of traveling to a specific location, often imbued with religious significance, to pay homage and foster a sense of connection (Zubaidi, 1997: 6/483). The English term "pilgrimage," borrowed from Sanskrit (Reader, 2015: 37-38), encompasses the act of journeying, leaving one's homeland, and engaging in designated rituals at a designated sacred site. Motivations for pilgrimage are diverse and may include seeking spiritual blessings, connecting with a transcendent being or ancestor, pursuing healing, requesting forgiveness, expressing emotions, or commemorating a personal event. While the intention behind pilgrimage may be individual, the practice often involves a collective dimension, with pilgrims gathering at sacred sites to perform rituals. Consequently, pilgrimage can be analyzed at both the individual and group levels. This research aims to explore the common cognitive core underlying the spiritual experience of pilgrimage through three distinct lenses: evolutionary, neurological, and spatial. Notably, within the context of Persian scholarship, while research on pilgrimage has been conducted from theological, Jurisprudential, and traditional Islamic perspectives, a cognitive science approach remains relatively unexplored. Cognitive science, a multifaceted and scientific discipline, delves into the workings of the human mind and its processes (Friendenberg & Silverman, 2016: 5). A subfield within this domain, the cognitive science of religion, focuses on examining religious beliefs, theories, and behaviors through the lens of cognitive science. Scholars in this field investigate how human minds acquire, generate, and transmit religious concepts, practices, and frameworks through established cognitive capacities (Lawson, 2022: 23). Despite the undeniable cultural and religious significance of pilgrimage, the cognitive and neural mechanisms underpinning this experience remain poorly understood. This research seeks to address this gap by examining pilgrimage rituals, which share similarities with other religious rituals, from three perspectives. Firstly, it will explore the evolutionary underpinnings, investigating the inherent cognitive dispositions within believers that may have facilitated the emergence and persistence of pilgrimage. Secondly, it will examine the neurological mechanisms activated within the pilgrim's mind during these rituals. Finally, it will investigate the bidirectional relationship between the sacred site, as a physical space, and the pilgrim's mind. This research posits pilgrimage as a phenomenon worthy of exploration through the lens of cognitive science, aiming to shed light on the underlying mental processes that shape this widespread religious practice.
Methodology
Despite the undeniable cultural and religious significance of pilgrimage, the cognitive and neural mechanisms underpinning this experience remain poorly understood. This research seeks to address this gap by examining pilgrimage rituals, which share similarities with other religious rituals, from three perspectives. Firstly, it will explore the evolutionary underpinnings, investigating the inherent cognitive dispositions within believers that may have facilitated the emergence and persistence of pilgrimage. Secondly, it will examine the neurological mechanisms activated within the pilgrim's mind during these rituals. Finally, it will investigate the bidirectional relationship between the sacred site, as a physical space, and the pilgrim's mind. This research posits pilgrimage as a phenomenon worthy of exploration through the lens of cognitive science, aiming to shed light on the underlying mental processes that shape this widespread religious practice.
 
Findings
The findings suggest that the cognitive foundation of pilgrimage rituals may lie in the interplay between human evolutionary psychology and belief systems. These belief systems, shaped by our cognitive hardware, may be further reinforced by religious teachings related to pilgrimage.
 
Discussion and Conclusion
This research, examining pilgrimage through the lenses of evolution, neuroscience, and spatiality, sheds light on the cognitive underpinnings of this practice. Firstly, the concept of soul-body dualism and the desire for immortality, rooted in our cognitive system (Bloom, 2007), may have provided the impetus for pilgrimage. Historically, pilgrimage could have fostered social cohesion and cultural transmission. In addition the ability to mentalize (Theory of Mind) may contribute to the belief in personified deities and spirits who respond to rituals. There are further exploration of the cognitive mechanisms behind attributing human-like qualities to supernatural entity (Purzycki, 2022: 72). Secondly, pilgrimage fosters a sense of presence with the visited entity which aligns with Yaden & Newberg's (2022) work about spiritual expriances. Examining how religious narratives and rituals contribute to this sense of presence would deepen our understanding. The potential role of "change in the state of consciousness" (Miller et al., 2019) and mirror neurons (Boyer, 2001) which is associated the collective dimension of the pilgrimage experiences is intriguing.  Also, both emotional and cognitive changes in pilgrims is reported. Investigating the specific cognitive functions affected (memory, attention) and the types of emotional responses (awe, peace) could add depth. The concept of "Urka" (I got it) (Zhao & Etal., 2014) as a factor in openness to seeking help from a supernatural power during pilgrimage, which is aligned with physical act and mental focuse, can be significant. Thirdly, highlighting the embodied nature of pilgrimage and the creation of a sacred space through movement and location (Sayer, 1985; Parkin, 1991) is a valuable point. Bilaterally, specific design elements of shrines have potential influence on pilgrims' experience (Parkin, 1991: 17-18). This research offers a perspective on the cognitive underpinnings of pilgrimage. By integrating evolutionary, neuroscientific, and spatial perspectives, it sheds light on the complex interplay between human beliefs, brain function, and the experience of sacred space.

Keywords

Pilgrimage
Neurotheology
Evelutionary
Spatiality
Cognitive Science of Religion
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[In Persian]

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