Synthesizing Empirical Findings and Theory in the Scientific Study of Religion
The SEFT Project is an initiative to survey the work that’s been done in the scientific study of religion thus far — to step back and take a bird’s-eye view of what the field has accomplished, where it’s come from, and where it might go next.
Science on Religion
Topics: Evolution of Religion Ritual Scientific Study of Religion
When and Why Do People Become Atheists? New Study Uncovers Important Predictors
The less that parents “walk the walk” about religious beliefs, the more likely their children are to walk away.
Big Think
Topics: Atheism Belief Religious Change Ritual Scientific Study of Religion
Creating God
An in-depth look at a provocative idea about the origin and purpose of the world’s religions.
Hidden Brain, NPR
Topics: Azim Shariff Belief Cooperation Cultural Evolution Evolution of Religion Faith Religiosity Ritual Trust
Feasting Rituals — and the Cooperation They Require — Are a Crucial Step Toward Human Civilization
How did civilization emerge from small groups of hunter-gatherers? Some archaeologists focus on cooperation as the vital ingredient — and find evidence for it in the form of feast-related artifacts.
The Conversation
Topics: Civilization Cooperation Ritual Social Behavior
Does Marching to the Same Rhythm Always Unite Us? Our New Study Says No
Rhythm and synchrony might be exactly what you don’t want if you’re trying to accomplish a practical goal.
Topics: Cooperation Ritual
A Cognitive (and Social) View of Ritual
A new paper by top thinkers in psychology and cognitive anthropology sets out exactly what distinguishes ritual from everyday actions, and why we human beings spend so much time and energy performing — and observing — rituals.
Topics: Emotion Ritual Self-Control
Religion Is Uniquely Human, But Computer Simulations May Help Us Understand Religious Behavior
Can artificial intelligence accurately simulate people’s religious tendencies in the face of disaster and tragedy?
Topics: Ritual Scientific Study of Religion
A Twist in Discussions of Chimpanzee Spirituality
The author of a study discusses findings and possibilities with anthropologist Barbara J. King.
13.7: Cosmos & Culture
Topics: Animal Studies Awe Religiosity Ritual Spirituality Wonder
Did Human Sacrifice Help People Form Complex Societies?
The debate over how well ritual killings maintained social order.
The Atlantic
Topics: Cultural Evolution Evolution of Religion Power Ritual Scientific Study of Religion Social Inequality Violence
How Feats of Endurance Cement Social Bonds
The links between pain, risk, and togetherness.
Erasmus, The Economist
Topics: Bonding Generosity Ritual
Who First Buried the Dead?
Evidence of burial rites by the primitive, small-brained Homo naledi suggests that symbolic behavior is very ancient indeed.
Aeon
Topics: Cultural Evolution Death Human Evolution Human Uniqueness Ritual
Do Chimpanzees Have Spiritual Experiences?
African chimps store caches of big rocks to throw at certain trees. And some scientists wonder, are these sacred trees?
To the Best of Our Knowledge
People Are Intensely Loyal to Groups Which Abuse Newcomers. Why?
Why do unpleasant hazing practices manage to remain so appealing that individuals are willing to risk legal punishment, injury, and even death to keep the practices alive?
Topics: Bonding Ritual
How Human Sacrifice Helped to Enforce Social Inequality
How could something as costly as human sacrifice have been so common in early societies? And why did these rituals need to be so dramatic and gory?
Topics: Cultural Evolution Demography Ritual Social Inequality
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