Morality and the Gods

The relationship between religion and morality has been a steadfast topic of inquiry since the dawn of the social sciences. This Element probes how the social sciences have addressed this relationship by detailing how theory and method have evolved over the past few generations.

List of contents

1. Introduction; 2. History and Ethnography; 3. Societal Typologies and the Quantification of Culture; 4. Cognition and Religion; 5. The Evolution of Religious Behaviour; 6. The Evolution of Religious Beliefs; 7. Conclusion; References.

Summary

The relationship between religion and morality has been a steadfast topic of inquiry since the dawn of the social sciences. This Element probes how the social sciences have addressed this relationship by detailing how theory and method have evolved over the past few generations.

Foreword

This Element examines the relationship between religion and morality through time, across cultures, and theoretical orientations.

Product details

• Authors: Benjamin Grant Purzycki, Benjamin Grant (Aarhus University) Purzycki
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.07.2025
• EAN: 9781009598729
• ISBN: 978-1-0-0959872-9
• No. of pages: 90
• Series: Elements in the Psychology of Religion
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > Psychology, esoterics, spirituality, anthroposophy > Applied psychology; Social sciences, law, business > Sociology > Miscellaneous; Evolution, Anthropology, PSYCHOLOGY / Applied Psychology, Social & cultural anthropology, ethnography, Cognition & cognitive psychology, Early Man, Social and cultural anthropology, Religious ethics, Cognition and cognitive psychology, Tribal religions, Evolutionary anthropology / Human evolution, Indigenous, ethnic and folk religions and spiritual beliefs