Slone, D. Jason

D. Jason Slone is an American cognitive scientist of religion whose work examines the psychological mechanisms underlying religious belief and practice. His influential book "Theological Incorrectness: Why Religious People Believe What They Shouldn't" (2004) demonstrates how ordinary believers' actual religious concepts often diverge significantly from official theological doctrines. Drawing on cognitive science and anthropological fieldwork, Slone argues that human cognitive constraints lead people to hold simplified, intuitive religious beliefs that frequently contradict the complex theological teachings of their own traditions. His research reveals a persistent gap between "theological correctness" (official doctrine) and "theological incorrectness" (what people actually believe), suggesting that natural cognitive processes shape religious belief more powerfully than formal instruction. Slone's work has been instrumental in establishing how evolved cognitive mechanisms influence religious thought, contributing to broader debates about the naturalness of religion and the relationship between intuitive and reflective religious cognition.