A cross-cultural study of reincarnation ideologies and their social correlates

? • • Published In • Pages: 1-317 •
By Matlock, James Graham

Abstract

This dissertation discusses the divided theoretical approach to how reincarnation, animism, spirits, and general religious beliefs occur within societies cross-culturally. Matlock offers evidence to support Tyler, contradicting the generally accepted Durkheimian approach, arguing that the belief about souls and spirits may originate in dreams and other empirical experiences, in turn informing and shaping social organization. Durkheim argued the opposite, claiming that religious beliefs reflect social organization such as the clan and kinship. The author states 33 quantitative hypotheses to be tested using 30 of the first 60 sample societies available in the HRAF Probability Sample.

Note

"All hypotheses are stated in a directional way, with reincarnation as the independent variable" (58). Additionally, an Animism Index and a Missionary Impact Scale were used as control measures.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
HRAF Probability Sample

Hypotheses (33)

HypothesisSupported
1) Reincarnation beliefs will be positively associated with belief in interaction between the living and dead.Marginally Supported
2) Reincarnation beliefs will be positively associated with belief in an afterlife socially organized to reflect the living modelNot Tested
3) Reincarnation beliefs will be positively associated with the belief in soul multiplicity.Not Supported
4) Reincarnation beliefs and the belief in soul singularity will be positively associated with spirit fragmentation at death.Supported
5) Reincarnation beliefs will be positively associated with transmigration beliefs.Not Supported
6) Reincarnation beliefs are positively associated with transformation beliefs.Marginally Supported
7) Reincarnation beliefs are positively associated with totemic beliefsNot Supported
8) Reincarnation beliefs are positively associated with guardian spirits beliefsSupported
9) Reincarnation beliefs are positively associated with non-human spirit beliefs.Not Supported
10) Reincarnation beliefs are positively associated with groups smaller than village levelNot Supported
11) Reincarnation beliefs are negatively associated with reliance on agriculture.Not Supported
12) Reincarnation beliefs are negatively associated with societies under the influence of Christianity or Islam for more than 50 years.Not Supported
13) Reincarnation beliefs are negatively associated with understanding the link between sexual intercourse and conception.Not Supported
14) Reincarnation beliefs are positively associated with the belief that a spiritual dimension produces the human bodySupported
15) Reincarnation beliefs are positively associated with the belief that conception is related to physical proximity and touching of deceased's objects/locations.Not Tested
16) Reincarnation beliefs are positively associated with couvade.Not Supported
17) Reincarnation beliefs are positively associated with second burial practices.Not Tested
18) Reincarnation beliefs are positively associated with multiple funeral rites.Not Tested
19) Reincarnation is positively associated with house and yard burial practices.Not Supported
20) Reincarnation beliefs are positively associated with lineage and clan cemeteries.Not Supported
21) Reincarnation beliefs are positively associated mark or mutilate bodies at death.Not Tested
22) Reincarnation beliefs are positively associated with orienting burials terrestrially.Not Tested
23) Reincarnation beliefs are positively associated with flexed burial posture.Not Supported
24) Reincarnation beliefs are positively associated with naming children after the deceased family members.Supported
25) Reincarnation beliefs are positively associated with signs or tests to determine a child's name.Marginally supported
26) Reincarnation beliefs are positively associated with belief in special relationships between name sharers.Not Tested
27) Reincarnation beliefs are positively associated with name taboos after a death, which are expelled at the point of a new child being born.Not Tested
28) Reincarnation beliefs will be positively associated with complementarity between alternate generations.Not Supported
29) Reincarnation beliefs will be positively associated with clan social organization.Supported
30) Reincarnation beliefs are positively associated with cross-cousin marriages.Supported
31) Reincarnation beliefs are positively associated with practice of levirate or sororateNot Supported
32) Reincarnation beliefs are positively associated with descent over filiation inheritance of property.Supported
33) Reincarnation beliefs is positively associated with hereditary succession of the community headsman.Not Supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: noah.rossen  anj.droe