The Cultural Evolution of Religion

Joseph Bulbulia; Armin w. Geertz; Quentin D. Atkinson; Emma Cohen; Nicholas Evans; Pieter Francois; Herbert Gintis; Russell Gray; Joseph Henrich; Fiona M. Jordon; Ara Norenzayan; Peter J. Richerson; Edward Slingerland; Peter Turchin; Harvey Whitehouse; Thomas Widlock; David S. Wilson

doi:10.7551/mitpress/9780262019750.003.0020

The Cultural Evolution of Religion

Joseph Bulbulia, Armin w. Geertz, Quentin D. Atkinson, Emma Cohen, Nicholas Evans, Pieter Francois, Herbert Gintis, Russell Gray, Joseph Henrich, Fiona M. Jordon, Ara Norenzayan, Peter J. Richerson, Edward Slingerland, Peter Turchin, Harvey Whitehouse, Thomas Widlock, David S. Wilson

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

Abstract

Religion may be one factor that enabled large-scale complex human societies to evolve. Utilizing a cultural evolutionary approach, this chapter seeks explanations for patterns of complexity and variation in religion within and across groups, over time. Properties of religious systems (e.g., rituals, ritualized behaviors, overimitation, synchrony, sacred values) are examined at different social scales, from small-scale forager to large-scale urban societies. The role of religion in transitional societies is discussed, as well as the impact of witchcraft, superhuman policing, and the cultural evolution of moralizing gods. The shift from an imagistic to a doctrinal mode of religiosity is examined, as are the relationships between sacred values and secular worlds. Cultural evolutionary approaches to religion require evidence and methods from collaborative and multidisciplinary science. The chapter concludes with an overview of several projects that are working to provide conceptual, methodological, and empirical groundwork.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Cultural Evolution: Society, Technology, Language, and Religion
Editors	Peter J Richerson & Morten H Christiansen
Place of Publication	Cambridge, MA and London
Publisher	MIT Press
Pages	381-404
Volume	1
Edition	1st
ISBN (Print)	9780262019750
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/9780262019750.003.0020
Publication status	Published - 2013

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10.7551/mitpress/9780262019750.003.0020

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Bulbulia, J., Geertz, A. W., Atkinson, Q. D., Cohen, E., Evans, N., Francois, P., Gintis, H., Gray, R., Henrich, J., Jordon, F. M., Norenzayan, A., Richerson, P. J., Slingerland, E., Turchin, P., Whitehouse, H., Widlock, T., & Wilson, D. S. (2013). The Cultural Evolution of Religion. In P. J. R. . M. H. C. (Ed.), Cultural Evolution: Society, Technology, Language, and Religion (1st ed., Vol. 1, pp. 381-404). MIT Press. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/9780262019750.003.0020

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abstract = "Religion may be one factor that enabled large-scale complex human societies to evolve. Utilizing a cultural evolutionary approach, this chapter seeks explanations for patterns of complexity and variation in religion within and across groups, over time. Properties of religious systems (e.g., rituals, ritualized behaviors, overimitation, synchrony, sacred values) are examined at different social scales, from small-scale forager to large-scale urban societies. The role of religion in transitional societies is discussed, as well as the impact of witchcraft, superhuman policing, and the cultural evolution of moralizing gods. The shift from an imagistic to a doctrinal mode of religiosity is examined, as are the relationships between sacred values and secular worlds. Cultural evolutionary approaches to religion require evidence and methods from collaborative and multidisciplinary science. The chapter concludes with an overview of several projects that are working to provide conceptual, methodological, and empirical groundwork.",

author = "Joseph Bulbulia and Geertz, {Armin w.} and Atkinson, {Quentin D.} and Emma Cohen and Nicholas Evans and Pieter Francois and Herbert Gintis and Russell Gray and Joseph Henrich and Jordon, {Fiona M.} and Ara Norenzayan and Richerson, {Peter J.} and Edward Slingerland and Peter Turchin and Harvey Whitehouse and Thomas Widlock and Wilson, {David S.}",

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language = "English",

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editor = "{Peter J Richerson & Morten H Christiansen}",

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Bulbulia, J, Geertz, AW, Atkinson, QD, Cohen, E, Evans, N, Francois, P, Gintis, H, Gray, R, Henrich, J, Jordon, FM, Norenzayan, A, Richerson, PJ, Slingerland, E, Turchin, P, Whitehouse, H, Widlock, T & Wilson, DS 2013, The Cultural Evolution of Religion. in PJRMHC (ed.), Cultural Evolution: Society, Technology, Language, and Religion. 1st edn, vol. 1, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA and London, pp. 381-404. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/9780262019750.003.0020

The Cultural Evolution of Religion. / Bulbulia, Joseph; Geertz, Armin w.; Atkinson, Quentin D. et al.
Cultural Evolution: Society, Technology, Language, and Religion. ed. / Peter J Richerson & Morten H Christiansen. Vol. 1 1st. ed. Cambridge, MA and London: MIT Press, 2013. p. 381-404.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

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AU - Bulbulia, Joseph

AU - Geertz, Armin w.

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AU - Evans, Nicholas

AU - Francois, Pieter

AU - Gintis, Herbert

AU - Gray, Russell

AU - Henrich, Joseph

AU - Jordon, Fiona M.

AU - Norenzayan, Ara

AU - Richerson, Peter J.

AU - Slingerland, Edward

AU - Turchin, Peter

AU - Whitehouse, Harvey

AU - Widlock, Thomas

AU - Wilson, David S.

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BT - Cultural Evolution: Society, Technology, Language, and Religion

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The Cultural Evolution of Religion

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