Description
Abstract: To discuss centres and peripheries in religion and its study is to employ a powerful conceptual metaphor, and the meanings we glean from the use of this metaphor rely heavily on our evolved cognitive architecture. Yet, one will observe that the cognitive study of religion lies more on the metaphorical periphery of the academy than at its centre. Some will argue that this is very much where it belongs. Other, more enthusiastic scholars may claim that cognition (broadly defined) should be placed at the very heart of the study of all things human, including religion.My argument will be that the language of centres and peripheries, while useful in describing inequalities, discrimination, and coalitionary dynamics, is less useful as a vision for how we might best work together to improve our understanding of religion, nonreligion, and human life. Based on my collaborative research in the cognitive science of religion and atheism, I will discuss two meta-theoretical strategies of science-humanities collaboration that aim to provide benefit for all involved parties. The first is Lawson & McCauley’s Interactionism model of interpretation and explanation. The second is Harvey Whitehouse and I’s use of Tinbergen’s 4 Questions in establishing a multi-disciplinary, holistic explanatory framework for human thought and action. I will then move from meta-theory to practice and methodology, describing how a team of sociologists, anthropologists, psychologists, and scholars of religion have worked together on the Understanding Unbelief programme (2017-2020) to try to avoid establishing a ‘centre-periphery’ relationship among our representative disciplines, methods, and questions and how this has benefited our research.
| Period | 15 Apr 2021 |
|---|---|
| Event title | ISORECEA conference: Religion on the Periphery : 14th International Study of Religion in Eastern and Central Europe Association Conference |
| Event type | Conference |
| Conference number | 14 |
| Location | Olomouc, Czech RepublicShow on map |
| Degree of Recognition | International |