Evolutionary Processes in the Natural History of Religion: Body, Brain, Belief (New Approaches to the Scientific Study of Religion, 10)

The study of religion by the humanities and social sciences has become receptive for an evolutionary perspective. Some proposals model the evolution of religion in Darwinian terms, or construct a synergy between biological and non-Darwinian processes. The results, however, have not yet become truly interdisciplinary. The biological theory of evolution in form of the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis (EES) is only sparsely represented in theories published so far by scholars of religion. Therefore this book reverses the line of view and asks how their results assort with evolutionary biology: How can the subject area “religion” integrated into behavioral biology? How is theory building affected by the asymmetry between the scarce empirical knowledge of prehistoric religion, and the body of knowledge about extant and historic religions? How does hominin evolution in general relate to the evolution of religion? Are there evolutionary pre-adaptations? Subsequent versions of evolutionary biology from the original Darwinism to EES are used in interdisciplinary constructs. Can they be integrated into a comprehensive theory? The biological concept most often used is co-evolution, in form of a gene-culture co-evolution. However, the term denotes a process different from biological co-evolution. Important EES concepts do not appear in present models of religious evolution: e.g. neutral evolution, evolutionary drift, evolutionary constraints etc. How to include them into an interdisciplinary approach? Does the cognitive science of religion (CSR) harmonize with behavioral biology and the brain sciences? Religion as part of human culture is supported by a complex, multi-level behavioral system. How can it be modeled scientifically? The book addresses graduate students and researchers concerned about the scientific study of religion, and biologist interested in interdisciplinarytheory building in the field. "The study of religion by the humanities and social sciences has become receptive for an evolutionary perspective. Some proposals model the evolution of religion in Darwinian terms, or construct a synergy between biological and non-Darwinian processes. The results, however, have not yet become truly interdisciplinary. The biological theory of evolution in form of the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis (EES) is only sparsely represented in theories published so far by scholars of religion. Therefore this book reverses the line of view and asks how their results assort with evolutionary biology: How can the subject area "religion" be integrated into behavioral biology? How is theory building affected by the asymmetry between the scarce empirical knowledge of prehistoric religion, and the body of knowledge about extant and historic religions? How does hominin evolution in general relate to the evolution of religion? Are there evolutionary pre-adaptations? Subsequent versions of evolutionary biology from the original Darwinism to EES are used in interdisciplinary constructs. Can they be integrated into a comprehensive theory? The biological concept most often used is co-evolution, in form of a gene-culture co-evolution. However, the term denotes a process different from biological co-evolution. Important EES concepts do not appear in present models of religious evolution: e.g. neutral evolution, evolutionary drift, evolutionary constraints etc. How to include them into an interdisciplinary approach? Does the cognitive science of religion (CSR) harmonize with behavioral biology and the brain sciences? Religion as part of human culture is supported by a complex, multi-level behavioral system. How can it be modeled scientifically? The book addresses graduate students and researchers concerned about the scientific study of religion, and biologist interested in interdisciplinary theory building in the field"-- Back cover Introduction Contents Part I: Religion Through the Eyes of a Biologist Evolution in All Its Facets References The Scientific Approach to Religion References What Do We Know? What Can Be Known? References Understanding Religion from the Inside References Part II: About Evolutionary Biology and the Evolution of Religion Evolution: The Modern Synthesis References Extended Evolutionary Synthesis, Epigenetics and the Contingency of Evolution References Gene-Culture Coevolution References Part III: Phenomenology of Paleolithic Religion A Story Told Backwards References The Beginning and the End: Pre-Human and Neolithic Religion References Hominin Pre-Adaptations: Background to the Evolution of Religion References Part IV: CSR: The Cognitive Science of Religion Evolutionary Psychology and Religion References Religious Fanaticism References Practical Religion and Spirituality References Magic, Religion and Evolutionary Ethics References Part V: Modeling the Evolutionary Path to Culture and Religion Multi-Level Models of Religious Evolution References Conclusion and Outlook References This Book Takes An Interdisciplinary Approach To The Study Of Religion And Evolution Through A Biological Theory In The Form Of The Extended Evolutionary Synthesis (ees). The Volume Covers Topics Such As How Religion Intersects With Behavioral Biology And How Hominin Evolution Relates To The Evolution Of Religion. There Are Chapters On How Evolutionary Biology Types From Original Darwinism To Ees Might Be Integrated Into A Comprehensive Theory As Well As Contributions On Concepts From Ees Appearing In Current Models Of Religious Evolution. The Author Tackles How Cognitive Science Of Religion Harmonizes With Behavioral Biology And How Religion As Part Of Human Culture Supported By A Complex Behavioral System Can Be Modeled Scientifically. This Book Appeals To Graduate Students And Researchers Concerned With The Scientific Study Of Religion, As Well As Biologists Interested In Interdisciplinary Theory Building Within The Field.