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Index
Contents Figures Preface Acknowledgements Chapter 1 Religion and science
Incidence of religion in the West
Stability and change
The present state The conflict between science and religion The questions Orientation Plan of the book Summary
Chapter 2 Some background issues
The components of religious systems The diversity of religious systems
Doctrinal and imagistic modes
The bases of the current approach
The building blocks Relatively stable behavioural characteristics
Levels of complexity
Initiation and transmission across the generations Basic human propensities and cultural differences Maladaptive behaviour
The self-system Summary
Chapter 3 What does it mean to say ‘I believe’?
Religious and scientific belief Varieties of believing
A caveat Degrees of believing Belief and the religious system Religious orientation
Gender differences Belief and personality Belief and the self-system Summary
Chapter 4 What are gods like?
Material or immaterial deities The counterintuitive properties of deities Lesser deities and related figures Material representations of deities Multi-faceted deities The Christian Trinity Authority and popular demand: the Virgin Mary How did religious entities come to have the form that they have? Summary Conclusion
Chapter 5 The development of beliefs
Domain-specific knowledge
Constraints on what is learnt The physical domain The biological domain Theory of mind
Intuitive and explicit representations Knowledge acquisition and storage The acquisition and maintenance of religious beliefs
Early religious involvement The modes of action of parental influences
The acquisition of the counterintuitive properties of deities Later experience Commitment to a relationship and commitment to a religious system Summary
Chapter 6 Why do people believe in gods?
Belief and basic human propensities
Attribution One who knows all Control, self-efficacy Adversity Mortality Relationship factors Social factors The meaning of life The diversity of the bases of belief
Belief and emotion Belief in what? Summary
Chapter 7 The dynamics of belief and its relation to the social system
Historical changes The dynamic nature of religious systems Differences in structure and transmission
Codification Missionary zeal Revelation Ubiquitous deities versus ‘our own’
The religious and social systems Summary
Chapter 8 Narratives
Narratives in everyday life Religious narratives
Role of religious narratives
Religious narratives and the social system Summary
Chapter 9 Ritual
Cause and consequence The category of religious ritual Religious and secular ritual Development Religious specialists Background conditions Summary
Chapter 10 The form and sequence of ritual
Characteristics of ritual
Ritual actions Symbolism in ritual Sequence and form
Magic in western societies Summary
Chapter 11 The motivation and consequences of ritual
The motivation of the participants
Religious specialists Others
Consequences of ritual Ritual and social structure Prayer Sacrifice Summary Conclusion: the nature of ritual
Chapter 12 Moral codes
Does religion help people to be good? Can a scientific approach help?
Kin selection Reciprocity Cultural group selection
Categories of precepts within moral codes Are moral rules absolute or specific to the society? The evolution of moral codes The dynamic nature of moral codes Moral code and individual moral judgements Institutional morality Development of the moral code in the individual Summary
Chapter 13 Prosocial behaviour and reciprocity
Reciprocity and prosocial behaviour in human interaction
Reciprocity in world religions Reciprocity in personal relationships
Conditions for prosocial behaviour and reciprocity Trust and commitment Reciprocity with the deity Limitations in the extension of reciprocity beyond the dyad Some complexities The development of reciprocity Relative values The role of religion Summary
Chapter 14 Other moral precepts
Status seeking Regulation of sexual relations Maintenance of group distinctiveness The ‘common good’ The dialectic Interactions with other aspects of the socio-cultural structure and with current conditions Summary
Chapter 15 Religious experience
Incidence Situations and techniques The nature of religious experience Interpretation Religious experience and comparable secular experience Summary
Chapter 16 Social aspects of religious systems
Group dynamics Social aspects of religion
Individuals and culture Social aspects of observance Religion and the social system Religious and secular power Divisiveness
Summary
Chapter 17 Why do religious systems persist?
Relative vulnerability of religious systems and organisations The adaptedness of tradition The persistence of beliefs
The nature of beliefs and believing Intuitive appeal and need satisfaction Incorporation in the self-system Religious specialists and the establishment Social pressures
Change in societal belief systems Acceptance of improbable beliefs The persistence of ritual The persistence of morality The existence and persistence of religious experience The persistence of the religious system Does religious adherence make people feel better?
Methodological problems Religion and health or well-being Mechanisms
Does religious adherence make people behave better? Summary
Chapter 18 Where do we go from here?
The costs of religion The benefits of religion A world without religion Belief Ritual Morality: a new understanding
Desiderata for morality The problem of moral authority
Social aspects Peace of mind: integration of the self-system
Notes Bibliography Index
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