Adam Barnett
Big Gods – Ara Norenzayan
How did human societies scale up from small, tight-knit groups of hunter-gatherers to the large, anonymous, cooperative societies of today–even though anonymity is the enemy of cooperation? How did organized religions with “Big Gods”–the great monotheistic and polytheistic faiths–spread to colonize most minds in the world? In Big Gods, Ara Norenzayan makes the surprising and provocative […]
Mental Culture – edited by Dimitris Xygalatas and William McCorkle
Description Why is the set of human beliefs and behaviours that we call “religion” such a widespread feature of all known human societies, past and present, and why are there so many forms of religiosity found throughout history and culture? Mental Culture brings together an international range of scholars – from Anthropology, History, Psychology, Philosophy, and Religious […]
The Dynamics of Religion Lecture Series 2013/14
While many work within the confines of their disciplines, the scientific study of religion has recently witnessed a surfeit of interdisciplinary research. By linking otherwise disparate fields of inquiry, contemporary research sheds light not only on religious belief and practice, but also on human nature, the dynamic nature of social systems, and how the two inform each other. This year’s series focuses […]
New Atheism, Ritual and Identity Fusion – Harvey Whitehouse CERC Interview series
A Walk In The Park with Dr Harvey Whitehouse Dr. Harvey Whitehouse, director of Oxford University’s Institute of Cognitive and Evolutionary Anthropology, explains why he thinks simplistic arguments about religion’s value and function in society are mistaken.
Researching Religion and Prosociality – Ara Norenzayan
Dr Ara Norenzayan, social psychologist at the University of British Columbia, outlines his and his colleagues’ research program on studying the links between religion and cooperation in large groups.
Archaeology and Religion – Lars Fogelin CERC Interview series
What does archaeology tell us about religion? Dr. Lars Foeglin of the University of Arizona introduces how academics who study ancient societies and artifacts approach religion and what it means for people’s lives.