Karl Friston, one of today’s foremost neuroscientists, thinks that all brain processing boils down to trying to reduce uncertainty about own’s own existence. Others think this same “free-energy principle” applies at the level of cultures, too – and maybe even religions. Here’s what that might mean. Read more
July 3, 2019
First Came the Temple – Then the City?
July 3, 2019 By Connor Wood
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Looking at the world’s towns and cities from above, a fascinating pattern appears: we build our civilizations around temples. What would an alien visitor think? Read more
June 13, 2019
Tradition and Innovation as Worldviews: Is Research into Religion a Fool’s Errand?
June 13, 2019 By Connor Wood
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Tradition and religion are a poor fit in the innovation-driven economy that professionals inhabit. Is it possible to translate the value of “farming” virtues into the language of modern-day foragers? Or is it a fool’s errand? Read more
May 28, 2019
Did Big Gods Come Before or After Big Societies?
May 28, 2019 By Connor Wood
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Do “big gods” – supernatural beings who care about human morality and fairness – help large, complex societies to evolve? A new paper in Nature suggests that it’s the other way around. But the paper’s findings have unleashed a storm of controversy and critiques. What can we conclude? Read more
May 10, 2019
Is Ritual a Tool for Resilience?
May 10, 2019 By Connor Wood
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In complex systems, too much efficiency can lead to a loss of resilience. Ritual and religious traditions may be built-in ways for people to prioritize resilience over efficiency, by preventing us from focusing too narrowly on utilitarian goals. Read more
April 4, 2019
Catholic Marriage Rules May Explain Why Western Societies are So WEIRD
April 4, 2019 By Connor Wood
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Residents of Western Europe and North America are WEIRD – individualistic, analytically minded, and impersonally cooperative. Why? A new study preprint suggests that the roots of WEIRDness might be in, of all things, the Catholic Church’s prohibitions against cousin marriage. Read more
March 16, 2019
How to Do Interdisciplinary Work that Works
March 16, 2019 By Connor Wood
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This past weekend, a group of senior scholars met for a colloquium in Boston to discuss the state of the scientific study of religion. One of the key questions: how do you balance between ecological validity and experimental control? Read more
March 8, 2019
A Big Weekend in Boston
March 8, 2019 By Connor Wood
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Religion is a complicated nut to crack. It encompasses some of the most private and personal human experiences as well as the most dazzling, public displays you’ll ever see. Many holy scriptures teach the equal value of all people, yet religious traditions serve as a fount of tribalism. There’s no getting around the contradictions. Fortunately, we can study some of the most puzzling aspects of religion objectively, using the tools of the human behavioral, cognitive, and evolutionary sciences. This is… Read more
February 22, 2019
Religion, Postmodernism, and Science™: Frenemies
February 22, 2019 By Connor Wood
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Religion, science, and postmodernism are usually seen as enemies. But each of these ideologies holds crucial values in common with each of the others – even if there’s nothing they all share together. Here’s a look at the complex, threeway relationship between Science™ and its two biggest competitors. Read more
February 7, 2019
We Trust Religious People More Because They’re Less Sexy
February 7, 2019 By Connor Wood
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Why do people – even atheists – tend to trust religious believers more? A scientific tool called life history theory may point to the answer. Religious believers are seen as having “slower” life history strategies – more committed relationships, more emphasis on caring for offspring. Read more
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