Shifting worldviews: modeling sacrality in naturalistic perspective

In this essay, I offer an exercise in modeling a multifaceted concept of sacrality. I do so within the context of my increasing interest in naturalistic, evolutionary views of human social behavior. I distinguish four genres of behavior and their ethological trajectories where sacrality can thus be...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Paden, William E. 1939- (Author)
Format: Electronic/Print Article
Language:English
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Published: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group [2017]
In: Religion
Year: 2017, Volume: 47, Issue: 4, Pages: 704-717
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Holiness / Behavioral research / Religious sociology
RelBib Classification:AA Study of religion
AD Sociology of religion; religious policy
AE Psychology of religion
Further subjects:B Environments
B Status
B niches
B Evolution
B Behavior
B Prestige
B Sacred
B inviolability
Online Access: Volltext (doi)
Description
Summary:In this essay, I offer an exercise in modeling a multifaceted concept of sacrality. I do so within the context of my increasing interest in naturalistic, evolutionary views of human social behavior. I distinguish four genres of behavior and their ethological trajectories where sacrality can thus be re-contextualized, at the same time freeing the term from its essentialized versions in religious studies. The behavioral frames include: making-sacred as dedicating objects for secure respect, defending the subsequent social order from violation, attributing status or prestige to objects, and responding to sacred ‘prompts’ with commensurate actions within niche-specific environments.
ISSN:0048-721X
Contains:Enthalten in: Religion
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1080/0048721X.2017.1336888