Shifting worldviews: modeling sacrality in naturalistic perspective |
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Authors: | William E Paden |
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Institution: | 1. Religion Department, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USAwpaden@uvm.edu |
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Abstract: | ABSTRACTIn 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. |
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Keywords: | Sacred status prestige inviolability niches environments behavior evolution |
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