Modeling Religion

Simulating the Transformation of Worldviews, Lifeways, and Civilizations

Wesley J. Wildman, F. LeRon Shults (Autoren)

Buch | Softcover

256 Seiten

2026
Bloomsbury Academic (Verlag)
978-1-350-36734-0 (ISBN)

Noch nicht erschienen (ca. Januar 2026)
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What role has religion played in the major civilizational transformations associated with the Neolithic Revolution, the Axial Age, and Modernity? This book introduces new methodological tools and material insights for guiding conversations about these debates.

The authors introduce a new branch of computational humanities, using computational modeling to simulate civilizational transformations. They integrate multiple theories across many disciplines, including the scientific study of religion, and evaluate the relative importance of those causal theories in processes of civilizational change. Materially, the book sheds new light on major debates among historians, archaeologists, and other social theorists on the role of religion within these major transitions.

The book tackles the urgent question of what sort of civilizational transformations might be possible in a world where the influence and significance of religion continues to decline wherever technology, education, freedom, and cultural pluralism are most advanced.

Wesley J. Wildman is Professor of Philosophy, Theology, and Ethics, and of Computing and Data Sciences at Boston University, USA; Professor II in the Institute for Global Development and Planning at the University of Agder, Norway; Executive Director of the Center for Mind and Culture in Boston; and Executive Director of Wildheart Evolution in Boston. F. LeRon Shults is Professor in the Institute for Global Development and Planning at the University of Agder, Norway and Research Professor at the NORCE Center for Modeling Social Systems in Kristiansand, Norway.

List of Figures
Preface
1. Why Model Religion?
2. Civilizational Transformation
3. Computational Simulation
4. Modeling the Neolithic Transition
5. Modeling the Axial Age Transition
6. Modeling the Modernity Transition
7. Insights and Prospects
Appendices
Bibliography
Index

Erscheinungsdatum	23.08.2024
Reihe/Serie	Scientific Studies of Religion: Inquiry and Explanation
Zusatzinfo	40 bw illus
Verlagsort	London
Sprache	englisch
Maße	156 x 234 mm
Themenwelt	Geisteswissenschaften ► Religion / Theologie
Themenwelt	Mathematik / Informatik ► Informatik ► Theorie / Studium
ISBN-10	1-350-36734-6 / 1350367346
ISBN-13	978-1-350-36734-0 / 9781350367340
Zustand	Neuware