Exploring the Challenges and Potentialities of the Database of Religious History for Cognitive Historiography

This article explores the potential impact and contribution of the Database of Religious History (DRH) project within the field of Cognitive Historiography. The DRH aims to bring together, in a systematic and open-access format, data on religious groups from across the globe and throughout history....

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Cognitive Historiography
Authors: Sullivan, Brenton (Author) ; Slingerland, Edward G. 1968- (Author) ; Tappenden, Frederick S. (Author) ; Muthukrishna, Michael (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: Equinox Publ. [2016]
In: Journal of Cognitive Historiography
Further subjects:B Digital humanities
B Cultural Evolution
B Religion
B Cognitive Historiography
Online Access: Presumably Free Access
Volltext (Verlag)
Volltext (doi)
Description
Summary:This article explores the potential impact and contribution of the Database of Religious History (DRH) project within the field of Cognitive Historiography. The DRH aims to bring together, in a systematic and open-access format, data on religious groups from across the globe and throughout history. By utilizing robust, open-source technologies and best-practice software principles, the DRH constitutes a novel and innovative approach to historical and cultural studies. As a contribution to the scientific study of both religion and history, the DRH offers data amenable to statistical analyses, thus providing tools for assessing diachronic cultural innovation and adaptation, the testing of grand narrative theories of religious change, and for enriching and revitalizing traditional fields such as comparative religions, history of religion(s), and anthropology of religion. In this article we explore the methods employed in collecting and digitizing historical data, identify our unit of analysis, outline the challenges of recruiting historians of various fields, and highlight the DRH’s methodological potential for both Religious Studies and Cognitive Historiography.
ISSN:2051-9680
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal of Cognitive Historiography
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1558/jch.31656