Science and Religious Anthropology (Ashgate Science and Religion)

295 Pages·2009·3.41 MB·English

by  Wesley J. Wildman

Science and ReligiouS anthRopology
Science and Religious Anthropology explores the convergence of the biological
sciences, human sciences, and humanities around a spiritually evocative,
naturalistic vision of human life. the disciplinary contributions are at different
levels of complexity, from evolution of brains to existential longings, and from
embodied sociality to ecosystem habitat. the resulting interpretation of the human
condition supports some aspects of traditional theological thinking in the world’s
religious traditions while seriously challenging other aspects. Wesley Wildman
draws out these implications for philosophical and religious anthropology and
argues that the modern secular interpretation of humanity is most compatible with
a religious form of naturalistic humanism.
this book resists the reduction of meaning and value questions while taking
scientific theories about human life with full seriousness. It argues for a religious
interpretation of human beings as bodily creatures emerging within a natural
environment that permits engagement with the valuational potentials of reality.
this engagement promotes socially borne spiritual quests to realize and harmonize
values in everything human beings do, from the forging of cultures to the crafting
of personal convictions.
ashgate Science and Religion Series
Series Editors:
Roger trigg, University of Warwick, UK
J. Wentzel van huyssteen, Princeton Theological Seminary, USA
Science and religion have often been thought to be at loggerheads but much
contemporary work in this flourishing interdisciplinary field suggests this is far from
the case. the Ashgate Science and Religion Series presents exciting new work to
advance interdisciplinary study, research and debate across key themes in science
and religion, exploring the philosophical relations between the physical and social
sciences on the one hand and religious belief on the other. contemporary issues in
philosophy and theology are debated, as are prevailing cultural assumptions arising
from the ‘post-modernist’ distaste for many forms of reasoning. the series enables
leading international authors from a range of different disciplinary perspectives to
apply the insights of the various sciences, theology and philosophy and look at the
relations between the different disciplines and the rational connections that can be
made between them. these accessible, stimulating new contributions to key topics
across science and religion will appeal particularly to individual academics and
researchers, graduates, postgraduates and upper-undergraduate students.
Other titles published in this series:
Theology, Psychology and the Plural Self
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9780754665199 (hbk)
Creation: Law and Probability
edited by Fraser Watts
9780754658900 (pbk)
Christology and Science
F. leRon Shults
9780754652243 (hbk)
9780754652311 (pbk)
Mind, Brain and the Elusive Soul
Human Systems of Cognitive Science and Religion
Mark graves
9780754662266 (hbk)
Science and
Religious anthropology
a Spiritually evocative naturalist interpretation
of human life
WeSley J. WildMan
Boston University, USA
© Wesley J. Wildman 2009
all rights reserved. no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the publisher.
Wesley J. Wildman has asserted his right under the copyright, designs and patents act,
1988, to be identified as the author of this work.
published by
ashgate publishing limited ashgate publishing company
Wey court east Suite 420
union Road 101 cherry Street
Farnham Burlington
Surrey, gu9 7pt Vt 05401-4405
england uSa
www.ashgate.com
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Wildman, Wesley J., 1961–
Science and religious anthropology: a spiritually evocative naturalist interpretation of
human life – (ashgate science and religion series)
1. theological anthropology. 2. philosophical anthropology. 3. naturalism – Religious
aspects. 4. Religion and science.
i. title ii. Series
218-dc22
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Wildman, Wesley J., 1961–
Science and religious anthropology: a spiritually evocative naturalist interpretation of
human life / Wesley J. Wildman.
p. cm. – (ashgate science and religion series)
includes bibliographical references and index.
iSBn 978-0-7546-6592-2 (hardcover: alk. paper) – 1. Religion and science. 2. anthropology
of religion. 3. theological anthropology.
i. title.
Bl240.3.W53 2009
215–dc22
2009011255
iSBn 9780754665922 (hbk)
iSBn 9780754696704 (ebk.V)
For the graduates, students, and faculty
of Boston University’ s doctoral program
in Science, Philosophy, and Religion
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contents
List of Figures and Tables ix
Foreword xi
Preface xv
Acknowledgments xxi
PARt I PRELImINARIES
1 inquiry 3
2 naturalism 19
PARt II PERSPECtIvES
3 evolution 35
4 groups 61
5 Brains 87
6 Bodies 117
7 Sex 143
8 habitat 173
PARt III FINDINgS
9 Homo Religiosus 209
Cited Works 233
Name Index 253
Subject Index 259
This page has been left blank intentionally
list of Figures and tables
Figures
1 Relationships among all types of experiences discussed 136
tables
1 Factors discriminating key terms that evolutionary psychologists use
to describe the evolutionary status of a biological or behavioral feature 51
2 Classification of broad types of religious anthropology 221