Jonathan A. Lanman

Jonathan A. Lanman is a Professor of Cognitive Anthropology at Queen's University Belfast, affiliated with the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics and the Institute of Cognition and Culture. He holds a DPhil and MSc from Oxford, an MA from the University of Missouri, and a BA from Southeast Missouri State University. His research focuses on the cognitive and evolutionary foundations of religion, including secularization dynamics and self-sacrificial behavior.

His key projects include the Understanding Unbelief (£2.3m Templeton-funded) and Explaining Atheism initiatives, examining global trends in non-religious belief. He also explores ritual's role in group cohesion, drawing on fieldwork in Ireland, Japan, and Europe. Awards include Aarhus University's Distinguished Fellowship and leadership roles in international cognitive science associations.

Key articles analyze atheist cognition, ritual efficacy, and CRED/CRUD dynamics. He mentors PhD students in cognitive anthropology and has collaborated with institutions like the ESRC and University of British Columbia. His work bridges social, cognitive, and evolutionary sciences to explain religious and secular belief systems.