Alliances and ritual ecstasy: human responses to resource stress

Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion Vol/Iss. 26 Published In Pages: 81-91
By Hayden, Brian

Abstract

This article hypothesizes that ritual ecstasy was selected for as a way for hunter-gatherers to cope with resource uncertainty by unifying separate groups. Results support this hypothesis and suggest a relationship between resource stress and deities as well as dependence on animals and presence of zoomorphic deities.

Documents and Hypotheses Filed By:Kate Cummings Megan Farrer