Searching for patterns, making predictions, finding freedom : cross-cultural research in religion
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| Year of publication | 2022 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
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| Description | Religious expression exists in a large variety of forms compiled from diverse components and attributes. While such overwhelming diversity could suggest uniqueness of each religious system, there are nevertheless underlying mechanisms which stem from shared cognitive and biological foundations of human existence. Studying and comparing cross-cultural material concerning religious expression, be it rituals, norms, or beliefs, reveals non-random patterns of human behaviours and thoughts. Formulating predictions concerning such patterns and regularities and testing them on cross-cultural data can bring new insights into the topics that govern lives of millions of people on the planet. Although there has been a slight advance in recent years in the creation and use of large databases of cultural and religious diversity (e.g., the creation of such databases as Pulotu, DRH, and Seshat), cross-cultural research is still largely neglected in religious studies. Anthropological databases such as HRAF, SCCS or D-PLACE are valuable resources for cross-cultural research on religious expression and can serve as an important starting point for testing assumptions about the general principles of human religious behaviour and thought. Combined with appropriate analytical methods, data drawn from those resources can help elucidate ambiguities regarding the origin of specific religious traditions, their impact on other areas of human activity, or their interplay with the natural and social environment. As any approach, cross-cultural research methods provide apt way to answer specific set of questions but are insufficient and unsuitable in other respects. These investigations should be complemented by contextualized and in-depth probes to verify that the general results really capture the reality of specific communities and traditions. In my talk, I will outline the advantages of cross-cultural research for the study of religion and types of questions it can help address. Further, I will present available resources, their specifics and usability. Finally, I will also point out the problems and shortcomings of this type of research and suggest some possible solutions. |
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