Q 3: Do Animals have Religion

Asked at: 10:09 pm

Tuesday, 17 June 2025

Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)

Answers:

perplexity.ai

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There is no scientific evidence that non-human animals have religion in the way humans do—meaning, they do not worship, pray, or believe in gods. However, some animals display behaviors that could be considered ritualistic or proto-religious, prompting ongoing debate among scientists and philosophers about the origins and nature of religious behavior.

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Animals do not exhibit behaviors such as worship, prayer, or belief in deities, which are core components of human religion2 46. There is no observed evidence of animals engaging in these activities.
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Some animals, particularly elephants, chimpanzees, dolphins, magpies, crows, and orcas, have been observed performing ritual-like behaviors. Examples include elephants mourning their dead, magpies leaving objects near deceased companions, and chimpanzees performing "dances" at waterfalls or during storms26. While these behaviors are not religious in the human sense, they may be precursors or analogs to certain ritualistic aspects of religion.
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Philosophers and scientists suggest that feelings such as awe—a foundational emotion behind many religious experiences—might be present in some animals. For instance, Jane Goodall has observed chimpanzees appearing to experience awe at waterfalls, though it is unclear if this constitutes a religious experience or is simply a reaction to a natural phenomenon1 26.
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Some animals, like great apes, elephants, dolphins, and certain birds, have demonstrated self-awareness in mirror tests. This level of cognitive complexity is considered necessary for meta-level thinking, which underpins religious thought in humans. However, whether this self-awareness translates into religious belief or practice is unknown1.

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Some researchers propose that ritualistic behaviors in animals may represent evolutionary precursors to human religious practices. These behaviors could be rooted in affective, bodily responses to the environment rather than complex belief systems56.
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Scientists caution against anthropomorphizing animal behaviors. While ritualistic actions may hint at spirituality, without language or clear evidence of abstract thought, it is difficult to assert that animals possess religion as humans understand it1 24.

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Some Indigenous traditions and religious philosophies consider animals as part of a sacred continuum, participating in spiritual relationships with the land and other beings. These perspectives attribute a form of religious participation to animals, though this is a cultural interpretation rather than a scientific finding37.

Conclusion

There is no evidence that animals have religion in the human sense—no worship, prayer, or belief in gods has been observed in non-human animals2 46. However, certain animals do exhibit ritualistic and emotional behaviors that may be evolutionary precursors to religious practice or reflect a kind of proto-spirituality1 2 56. Whether these behaviors qualify as "religion" depends largely on how one defines the term and the interpretive lens applied. The question remains open, but current scientific consensus is that religion, as humans experience it, is unique to our species.

Iask.ai

Ritual behavior in animals is a fascinating area of study that explores behaviors in non-human animals that may be considered precursors to religious or spiritual practices. While the concept of religion is often associated with humans, characterized by worship, prayer, and belief in gods, some scientists are exploring the possibility of proto-religious behaviors in animals. This involves using a "non-anthropocentric and non-anthropomorphic prototype definition" of religion to study animal behaviors.

Ritual behaviors are most commonly studied in chimpanzees, elephants, and dolphins, but have also been observed in other animals like magpies, crows, and orcas. Nancy R. Howell suggests that chimpanzees and bonobos may have the precursors for culture and spirituality, such as connectedness, interdependence, and sociality, along with a level of "symbolic capacity". Primatologist Jane Goodall has noted that some chimpanzees may "dance" at the onset of heavy rain or when they come across a waterfall, speculating that these displays are precursors of religious ritual.

Funeral rites, while not common, are well-documented in African elephants. Elephants often bury dead animals, including other elephants, with mud, earth, and leaves. They have also been observed burying their dead with food, fruit, flowers, and colorful foliage. Both wild and captive chimpanzees also engage in ritualized behaviors at the death of a group member, including silence, vocalizations, grooming the carcass, visitation, and displays of distress. Dolphins have been known to stay with deceased pod members for several days. Orcas, such as Tahlequah (J35), have been observed carrying the carcass of their newborn infant for extended periods. Crows and other corvids also exhibit funeral-like behaviors, including gathering around and holding vigils over the carcass.

The study of animal ritual behavior is of interest to paleoanthropologists, as it provides insights into the development of religious belief systems in early humans. Some have drawn similarities between the funeral rituals of African elephants and those of Neanderthals. Evolutionary psychologist Matt Rossano has theorized that religion evolved in stages, with early stages characterized by ecstatic rituals, followed by shamanic healing rituals, and later, the development of art, ritual artifacts, ancestor worship, and moral structures.

1. Goodall, Jane (2005). "Primate spirituality". In B. Taylor (ed.). The Encyclopaedia of Religion and Nature. New York: Thoemmes Continuum. pp. 1303–1306.

2. King, Barbara J. (March 29, 2016). "Seeing Spirituality in Chimpanzees". The Atlantic. Emerson Collective.

This reference provides information on Jane Goodall's observations of chimpanzee behavior, specifically their potential spiritual or ritualistic displays.

This reference discusses grief in animals, which is relevant to the topic of animal ritual behavior.

3. Bekoff, Marc (October 29, 2009). "Grief in Animals". Psychology Today.

This reference discusses the possibility of spirituality in chimpanzees, which is relevant to the topic of animal ritual behavior.

4. Siegel, Ronald K. (October 1980). "The Psychology of Life After Death"(PDF). American Psychologist. 35 (10): 911–931.

This reference discusses the behavior of orcas, specifically the carrying of a dead calf, which is relevant to the topic of animal ritual behavior.

5. "Grief or instinct: Interpreting a mother orca's actions | CBC News". CBC.

This reference discusses the psychology of life after death, which is relevant to the topic of animal ritual behavior.

6. "Why Crows Hold Funerals". Live Science. 6 January 2016.

This reference discusses the funeral-like behavior of crows, which is relevant to the topic of animal ritual behavior.

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Microsoft Copilot

Religion, as most scholars define it, involves not just ritual behaviors but also beliefs about the supernatural, shared symbols, and narratives passed across generations. To date there’s no documented evidence that non-human animals hold beliefs in gods, spirits, or an afterlife—core components of human religions.

That said, many species engage in highly ritualized behaviors that echo elements of religious practice. Chimpanzees sometimes perform “rain dances” or waterfall “dances,” elephants famously cover their dead with leaves and earth, and dolphins may linger beside deceased pod-mates for days. These actions suggest proto-religious rituals—formalized sequences of behavior surrounding life-cycle events and death.

Underneath ritual lies the emotion of awe, a proto-religious attitude. Some primates, when confronted by natural wonders like thundering waterfalls, appear to “dance” in a way that Jane Goodall interprets as wonder. But unless animals possess meta-cognitive self-awareness—thinking about their own thoughts—we can’t be sure they experience awe in anything like the human sense.

By adopting a non-anthropocentric, non-anthropomorphic definition of religion (e.g., James Harrod’s “Trans-Species Definition of Religion”), researchers can systematically study these ritual and emotional behaviors without presuming human-style beliefs. This framework treats ritualized attention to life, death, and nature as one axis of religion, opening the door to comparative, cross-species analysis.

In sum, while animals don’t appear to practice religion in our full human sense—complete with gods, doctrines, and sacred texts—they exhibit ritualized behaviors and emotional responses that may be the evolutionary precursors of religion. Whether these amount to “religion” depends on how broadly we define the term and whether we attribute human-level consciousness to animal minds.

Google Gemini

The question of whether animals have "religion" is a fascinating one, and the answer largely depends on how you define "religion."

The Prevailing Scientific View:

Most scientists and scholars of religion define religion as a uniquely human phenomenon. Key aspects of human religion, such as:
- Belief in supernatural beings or forces: Animals haven't been observed to worship gods, pray, or believe in an afterlife in the human sense.
- Complex theological systems: There's no evidence of animals developing scriptures, moral codes based on divine revelation, or complex mythologies.
- Symbolic thought and abstract reasoning: Religion often involves highly abstract concepts and symbolic representations, which are largely beyond what we understand of animal cognition.
- Conscious reflection on meaning and purpose: While animals certainly experience emotions and respond to their environment, there's no strong evidence they ponder existential questions in the way humans do.

However, there's a growing area of study called "animal faith" or the "proto-religious" behaviors in animals. This field looks at behaviors that might be precursors to human religious practices, or that suggest a "spiritual" dimension in a very broad sense.

Behaviors that have led to speculation:

Ritualistic Behaviors: Many animals engage in ritualized behaviors, especially around mating, fighting, greeting, and even play. These are often repetitive and stereotyped. While these serve clear biological or social functions, some researchers wonder if they hint at a deeper, more symbolic significance for the animals themselves.
- Chimpanzee "Rain Dances" or "Waterfall Dances": Jane Goodall observed chimpanzees performing "dances" during heavy rains or at waterfalls, which she speculated could be precursors to human religious rituals, possibly indicative of awe or wonder.
- Elephant "Funeral Rituals": Elephants are famously observed to "mourn" their dead. They will gather around deceased members of their herd, touch and smell the bones, and sometimes even cover the bodies with leaves and mud. They have also been known to visit the remains of deceased elephants over long periods. While grief is common in many animals, the elaborate nature of these interactions has led some to consider them proto-funeral rituals.
- Corvid "Vigils": Crows and other corvids have been seen gathering around deceased members, sometimes for extended periods, in what appear to be "vigils."
- Orca "Grief Tours": An orca named Tahlequah carried her dead calf for 17 days, a behavior interpreted by many as profound grief.
Responses to Awe and Wonder: Some primatologists suggest that chimpanzees and other primates exhibit behaviors that could be interpreted as a response to awe or wonder, such as their reactions to powerful natural phenomena like waterfalls or thunderstorms.
Attention to the Dead: Beyond elephants and corvids, dolphins have been observed staying with recently deceased pod members for days. While the reasons are not fully understood, it suggests a strong bond and awareness of death.

Important Distinctions:

Ritual vs. Religion: While animals engage in many rituals, these are not necessarily "religious" in the human sense. Many animal rituals serve clear evolutionary or social purposes (e.g., establishing dominance, attracting mates, communicating intent).
Awe vs. Worship: Feeling "awe" in response to natural phenomena is a powerful emotion that humans experience and that might be shared by some animals. However, this is different from consciously worshipping a deity or believing in a supernatural realm.
Anthropomorphism: It's crucial to avoid anthropomorphism (attributing human characteristics to animals) when interpreting animal behaviors. While fascinating, these behaviors don't definitively prove complex religious beliefs.

Conclusion:

Based on current scientific understanding, animals do not have religion in the way humans do. They do not demonstrate worship, prayer, belief in gods, or complex theological systems.

However, many animals, particularly highly social and intelligent ones like primates, elephants, and cetaceans, exhibit complex emotional lives, social rituals, and responses to death and natural phenomena that some researchers consider to be precursors or analogs to elements found in human spirituality or proto-religion. These behaviors highlight the deep connections between humans and other species and invite continued scientific inquiry into the rich inner lives of animals.

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