This volume addresses the problem of change and continuity in religious traditions from the perspective of cognitive science. Relying on the rapidly growing body of scientific knowledge about the human mind, the authors examine cross-culturally recurrent religious phenomena and specific religious traditions, in an attempt to explain why religions change dynamically whilst still exhibiting high degrees of continuity. The volume contributes to our understanding of how social and cultural phenomena emerge from mental processes taking place in the brains of many individuals.The cognitive turn in the humanities entails not only a new, biologically grounded view of human phenomena, but also novel questions and methods. Some of the chapters, written by philosophers and linguists, discuss what the study of religion can learn from other disciplines that have already undertaken the cognitive turn. Anthropologists and psychologists of religion build bridges from different areas within the cognitive sciences to very specific issues of religion; they thus pave the way for Biblical scholars and theologians who are embracing the new cognitive method.This volume is the result of the International Workshop on Religion and Cognition, co-organised by the Cultural Change programme and the Centre for Religion and Cognition at the University of Groningen in 2006.

edited by István Czachesz and Tamás Biró

István Czachesz; T. S Biró

Istvǹ Czachesz; T. S Bir̤

Biro, T.

Uitgeverij Peeters NV

Peeters BVBA

Netherlands, Belgium

2012

Papers presented at a international workshop held in Gröningen, Germany, 2006.
Research report.
Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction / Istavan Czachesz And Tamas Biro -- Religious Universals And Religious Variation / Harvey Whitehouse -- Reduction And Explanatory Pluralism In Teh Cognitive Science Of Religion / Ilkka Pyysianen -- Cognitive And Cultural Perspecitves On Language / John Nerbonne -- Meaningful Meaning: Chagning Elations Between Science And Religion / Fred Keijzer -- The Wondering Brain: Dreaming, Religion And Cognitive Science / Kelly Bulkeley -- Cognitive Analysis Of Faith And Christological Change: Contribution To A Psychology Of Early Christian Religion / Gerd Theissen -- Towards A Cognitive History Of Early Christian Rituals / Risto Uro -- Women, Charity And Mobility In Early Christianity: Weak Links And The Historical Transformation Of Religions / Istavan Czachesz -- Optimal Religion: Optimality Theory Accounts For Ritual Dynamics / Tamas Biro -- Firewalking In The Balkans: 'high-arousal' Rituals And Memory / Dimitris Xygalatas Edited By István Czachesz And Tamás Biró. Papers Presented At A International Workshop Held In Gröningen, Germany, 2006. Research Report. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.

2024-04-14