Is Religion a Mental Virus?! A Critical Look at Richard Dawkins’ Cultural-Religious Memetics

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Department of Logic of Understanding Religion, Faculty of Wisdom and Religious Studies, Research Institute for Islamic Culture and Thought, Qom, Iran

10.22059/jpht.2025.394680.1006124

Abstract

Why and how religion emerged and persisted, its inclusiveness and comprehensiveness, the depth of its attraction and influence, and its remarkable effects on human life are among the most important contemporary theological issues. A number of recent natural explanations in this field are those based on Darwin's evolutionary theory. In this type of theorizing, Richard Dawkins' memetic and mental virus theory is the most controversial view, which not only promotes naturalism and religious unreality, but also strongly criticizes religion and incites a sense of disgust and hatred for it. Given the importance of this issue and its role in the most basic cognitive, emotional, and behavioral foundations of humankind, the present article aims to examine and evaluate the aforementioned view. The research method will be in terms of library collection and in terms of rational-analytical judgment. The conclusion of the research is that Dawkins's views and his way of expressing in this regard are mixed with various errors and fallacies, which may have no support from science or other epistemological channels or human logic.

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References

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Philosophy of Religion
Volume 22, Issue 4
January 2026
Pages 315-327

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