Epstein Secrets

not be possible to know for sure that a culture wor- shipped gods until we can read their names—that is, until the literate societies of ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt, some 5000 years ago. Those early empires had both secu- lar and religious hierarchies, with priestly elites and some- times a god-king

er researchers are extending this cog- nitive model, finding additional thought processes that they say make religious belief natural. For example, Bloom and Jesse 5 2 eF Downloaded from www.sciencemag.org on November 25. 2009 786 6 NOVEMBER 2009 VOL 326 SCIENCE www.sciencemag.org pubtethedayams

the archaeo- logical record and the theoretical models of psychologists. Archaeological objects fall short of revealing our ancestors' minds, says Bloom, while on the psychological side, "we need more evidence!' Birth of the gods When did religious beliefs begin? A likely place to find out is the

ssible to know g for sure that a culture wor- d shipped gods until we can read I their names—that is, until the e literate societies of ancient $ Mesopotamia and Egypt, I some 5000 years ago. Those g early empires had both secu- € lar and religious hierarchies, 6 • with priestly elites and some- • times

er researchers are extending this cog- nitive model, finding additional thought processes that they say make religious belief natural. For example, Bloom and Jesse 5 2 eF Downloaded from www.sciencemag.org on November 25. 2009 786 6 NOVEMBER 2009 VOL 326 SCIENCE www.sciencemag.org pubtethedayams

the archaeo- logical record and the theoretical models of psychologists. Archaeological objects fall short of revealing our ancestors' minds, says Bloom, while on the psychological side, "we need more evidence." Birth of the gods When did religious beliefs begin? A likely place to find out is the

ot be possible to know E for sure that a culture wor- shipped gods until we can read their names—that is, until the literate societies of ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt, g some 5000 years ago. Those 2 early empires had both seen- 1 lar and religious hierarchies, with priestly elites and some- times a go

the archaeo- logical record and the theoretical models of psychologists. Archaeological objects fall short of revealing our ancestors' minds, says Bloom, while on the psychological side. "we need more evidence." Birth of the gods When did religious beliefs begin? A likely place to find out is the