Religions as complex adaptive systems : The evolutionary paths
of religious beliefs and behaviors

k 2019

Religions as complex adaptive systems : The evolutionary paths of religious beliefs and behaviors

LANG, Martin

Basic information

Original name

Religions as complex adaptive systems : The evolutionary paths of religious beliefs and behaviors

Authors

LANG, Martin

Edition

IAPR Conference 2019; 30.08.-04.09.2013; Gdansk, Polsko, 2019

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Presentations at conferences

Field of Study

60304 Religious studies

Country of publisher

Poland

Confidentiality degree

is not subject to a state or trade secret

Organization unit

Faculty of Arts

Keywords in English

cognition; complex adaptive systems; evolution; mechanism; the humanities and the sciences; religion; ritual

Abstract

In the original language

The study of religions and similarly complex cultural phenomena was traditionally conducted by scholars in the humanities and social sciences; however, in the past 30 years, the field of religious studies experienced an exponential growth of evolutionarily and cognitively oriented approaches, which significantly broadened the toolkit for studying religions. Harnessing this interdisciplinary toolkit, scholars can now study religions as complex adaptive systems and focus their investigations on various levels of complexity of the studied phenomena, from particular mechanisms and their functional connections to the workings of the whole system in its cultural niche. Moreover, adding the evolutionary dimension to the investigated phenomena can further elucidate the origins and development of religious systems, allowing for mutual corroboration of theories between various complexity levels. In this talk, I will illustrate the complex-adaptive-systems approach by examining the evolutionary paths of various aspects of religious behaviors and beliefs, focusing mainly on their adaptive functions in facilitating cooperation, coordination, and group cohesion. In support, I will present evidence from laboratory experiments, field studies, and ethnographic databases.

Links

EE2.3.20.0048, research and development project

Name: Laboratoř pro experimentální výzkum náboženství

Cite

LANG, Martin. Religions as complex adaptive systems : The evolutionary paths of religious beliefs and behaviors. In IAPR Conference 2019; 30.08.-04.09.2013; Gdansk, Polsko. 2019.

@proceedings{1572903,
   author = {Lang, Martin},
   booktitle = {IAPR Conference 2019; 30.08.-04.09.2013; Gdansk, Polsko},
   keywords = {cognition; complex adaptive systems; evolution; mechanism; the humanities and the sciences; religion; ritual},
   language = {eng},
   title = {Religions as complex adaptive systems : The evolutionary paths of religious beliefs and behaviors},
   year = {2019}
}

TY  - CONF
ID  - 1572903
AU  - Lang, Martin
PY  - 2019
TI  - Religions as complex adaptive systems : The evolutionary paths of religious beliefs and behaviors
KW  - cognition
KW  - complex adaptive systems
KW  - evolution
KW  - mechanism
KW  - the humanities and the sciences
KW  - religion
KW  - ritual
N2  - The study of religions and similarly complex cultural phenomena was traditionally conducted by scholars in the humanities and social sciences; however, in the past 30 years, the field of religious studies experienced an exponential growth of evolutionarily and cognitively oriented approaches, which significantly broadened the toolkit for studying religions. Harnessing this interdisciplinary toolkit, scholars can now study religions as complex adaptive systems and focus their investigations on various levels of complexity of the studied phenomena, from particular mechanisms and their functional connections to the workings of the whole system in its cultural niche. Moreover, adding the evolutionary dimension to the investigated phenomena can further elucidate the origins and development of religious systems, allowing for mutual corroboration of theories between various complexity levels. In this talk, I will illustrate the complex-adaptive-systems approach by examining the evolutionary paths of various aspects of religious behaviors and beliefs, focusing mainly on their adaptive functions in facilitating cooperation, coordination, and group cohesion. In support, I will present evidence from laboratory experiments, field studies, and ethnographic databases.
ER  -

LANG, Martin. Religions as complex adaptive systems : The evolutionary paths of religious beliefs and behaviors. In \textit{IAPR Conference 2019; 30.08.-04.09.2013; Gdansk, Polsko}. 2019.

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