Evolutionary Processes in the Natural History of Religion: Body, Brain, Belief

The study of religion by the humanities and social sciences has become receptive for an evolutionary perspective, but the results have not yet become truly interdisciplinary. The biological theory of evolution in the form of the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis (EES) is only sparsely represented in theories published so far by scholars of religion. This book reverses the line of view and asks how the results of evolutionary biology can be integrated into a comprehensive theory of religion. It also discusses the asymmetry between the scarce empirical knowledge of prehistoric religion and the body of knowledge about extant and historic religions, and the evolution of religion in relation to hominin evolution.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 212 pages
Publication date: 24 September 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

The study of religion by the humanities and social sciences has embraced an evolutionary perspective, with some proposals modeling religion's evolution in Darwinian terms or combining biological and non-Darwinian processes. However, true interdisciplinary integration has yet to be achieved. The biological theory of evolution, particularly the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis (EES), is sparsely represented in theories on religion. This book challenges the traditional perspective by exploring how religion can be integrated into behavioral biology. It examines the asymmetry between empirical knowledge of prehistoric religion and the extensive knowledge of extant and historic religions. It also investigates the relationship between hominin evolution and the evolution of religion, exploring potential evolutionary pre-adaptations. Subsequent versions of evolutionary biology, from Darwinism to EES, are employed in interdisciplinary constructs. The book discusses the integration of these concepts into a comprehensive theory. Co-evolution, in the form of gene-culture co-evolution, is a commonly used biological concept, distinct from biological co-evolution. However, important EES concepts such as neutral evolution, evolutionary drift, and evolutionary constraints are not currently included in models of religious evolution. The book explores how to incorporate these concepts into an interdisciplinary approach. Additionally, it examines the compatibility of cognitive science of religion (CSR) with behavioral biology and the brain sciences. It recognizes religion as a complex aspect of human culture supported by a multi-level behavioral system. The book aims to provide insights for graduate students and scholars interested in the interdisciplinary study of religion and evolution.

Weight: 349g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030704100
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021