Ritual in human evolution and religion: psychological and ritual resources

"This book explores the role of ritual in social life, human evolution, and religion. It explains the functions and purpose of varied rituals across the world by arguing they are mechanisms of 'resource management', providing a descriptive tool for understanding rituals and generating...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Rossano, Matthew J. 1962- (Author)
Format: Print Book
Language:English
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WorldCat: WorldCat
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: New York London Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group 2021
In:Year: 2021
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Ritual / Social life / Religious life
IxTheo Classification:AA Study of religion
AB Philosophy of religion; criticism of religion; atheism
AE Psychology of religion
AG Religious life; material religion
Further subjects:B Rites and ceremonies Psychological aspects
B Ethnology
B Human Evolution
Online Access: Table of Contents
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Summary:"This book explores the role of ritual in social life, human evolution, and religion. It explains the functions and purpose of varied rituals across the world by arguing they are mechanisms of 'resource management', providing a descriptive tool for understanding rituals and generating predictions about ritual survival. By showing how rituals have resulted from the need to cultivate social resources necessary to sustain cooperative groups, Rossano presents a unique examination of the function of rituals and how they cultivate, mobilize, and direct psychological resources. Rossano examines rituals from a diverse range of historical contexts, including the Greco-Romans, Soviet Russians, and those in 'crisis cults'. The book shows how rituals address societal and community problems by cultivating three psychological resources - commitment to communal values, goodwill (both of humans and supernatural agents) and social support or social capital. Holding communities together in the face of threat, disaster, or apathy is one of ritual's primary functions, and the author describes how our ancestors used ritual to become the highly social, inter-dependent primate that is Homo sapiens. Including examples from all over the world and providing detailed descriptions of both past and current ritual practices, this is fascinating reading for students and academics in psychology, sociology, religion, anthropology, and sociology"--
Item Description:Includes bibliographical references and index
ISBN:0367856921