Mental Culture: Classical Social Theory and the Cognitive Science of Religion (Religion, Cognition and Culture) - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1844656640 ISBN 13: 9781844656646

Publisher: Routledge, 2013

Synopsis

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 Studies - to answer these questions. Connecting classical theories and approaches with the newly established field of the Cognitive Science of Religion, the aim of "Mental Culture" is to provide scholars and students of religion with an overview of contemporary scientific approaches to religion while tracing their intellectual development to some of the great thinkers of the past.

About this title

About the Author:

Dimitris Xygalatas is Director of the Laboratory for the Experimental Research of Religion in Brno, Czech Republic and holds a joint position with Aarhus University, Denmark, and Masaryk University, Czech Republic. He is author of The Burning Saints: Cognition and Culture in the Fire-walking Rituals of the Anastenaria and Managing Editor of the Journal for the Cognitive Science of Religion.

William W. McCorkle Jr. is Director of Experimental Research at the Laboratory for Experimental Research of Religion and Associate Professor in the Department for the Study of Religions at Masaryk University, Czech Republic. He is author of Ritualizing the Disposal of the Deceased: From Corpse to Concept.

Review:

"It is a rare treat to have the leading scholars of one generation comment on their towering predecessors. Mental Culture is a stunning book that should be required reading in both religious studies and cognitive science. Kudos to the editors for their vision, masterful organization, and firmly situating the cognitive science of religion within the distinguished history of the academic study of religion." – Richard Sosis, University of Connecticut

”The diverse phenomena of religion constitute one of the most crucial sets of evidence that we possess on the human mind. As such, it requires a thorough cross-disciplinary examination. This excellent collection of papers goes a long way toward achieving this end.” – Merlin Donald, Queen's University, Kingston

"A novel and clever way to revisit the founders of social science and to commemorate their contribution to the evolving field of cognitive science of religion." – Anthropology Review Database

"This book will excite and encourage young scholars to contribute to the field of the CSR while providing new and interesting insights for more established scholars. It is a significant contribution to the field and a must read for all interested in the study of religion." – BASR Bulletin

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1844656640
• ISBN 13: 9781844656646
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 278
• Editor: Dimitris Xygalatas, William W. Mccorkle Jr.