A CULTURAL EVOLUTIONARY APPROACH TO MODERNITY: WHAT MIGHT IT MEAN FOR CHRISTIAN FAITH?. Issue 1 (19th February 2020)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- A CULTURAL EVOLUTIONARY APPROACH TO MODERNITY: WHAT MIGHT IT MEAN FOR CHRISTIAN FAITH?. Issue 1 (19th February 2020)
- Main Title:
- A CULTURAL EVOLUTIONARY APPROACH TO MODERNITY: WHAT MIGHT IT MEAN FOR CHRISTIAN FAITH?
- Authors:
- Patterson, Colin
- Abstract:
- Abstract: This essay introduces, for theological consideration, some recent work in the field of cultural evolutionary theory, specifically the kin‐influence hypothesis. This theory holds that, following the beginnings of industrialization and economic growth, a nation's fertility rate commences a decline, which is further abetted by the consequent and increasing imbalance in the relative influence of kin versus nonkin influences on individuals in favor of the latter. It is further proposed that this process is itself a major independent factor in the emergence of many of the features of what is called modernity, among which is that of secularization. Extending further this work, I argue that, given the historic alignment of family and religious values in Christian nations, a loss of religious belief and practice is, at least in part, the spill over effect of the opposing influence of values emerging from ever more dominant nonfamily social interaction. I conclude with some reflections on possible theological implications.
- Is Part Of:
- Zygon. Volume 55:Issue 1(2020)
- Journal:
- Zygon
- Issue:
- Volume 55:Issue 1(2020)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 55, Issue 1 (2020)
- Year:
- 2020
- Volume:
- 55
- Issue:
- 1
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2020-0055-0001-0000
- Page Start:
- 52
- Page End:
- 72
- Publication Date:
- 2020-02-19
- Subjects:
- cultural evolution -- family -- fertility -- modernity -- secularization
Religion and science -- Periodicals
Electronic journals
200 - Journal URLs:
- http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1467-9744 ↗
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/ ↗ - DOI:
- 10.1111/zygo.12581 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 0591-2385
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - 9538.880000
British Library DSC - BLDSS-3PM
British Library HMNTS - ELD Digital store - Ingest File:
- 12935.xml