The Origins of Shamanism, Spirit Beliefs, and Religiosity
Lexington Books January 1, 2017 DOI: 10.5771/9781498551908 (opens in new tab) via Semantic Scholar
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractShamanism is an ancient magico-religious, divinatory, medical, and psychotherapeutic tradition found worldwide. Drawing on first-hand ethnographic fieldwork and scientific theories from archaeology, cognitive and evolutionary psychology, and neurotheology, the work explores the origins of shamanism, spirit beliefs, the evolution of human consciousness, and the beginnings of ritual behavior and religiosity.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Psychology History |
| Key finding | Proposes that shamanism is an ancient magico-religious, divinatory, medical, and psychotherapeutic tradition whose origins can be explored through ethnographic fieldwork and scientific theoretical work in archaeology, cognitive and evolutionary psychology, and neurotheology. |
Abstract
In The Origins of Shamanism, Spirit Beliefs, and Religiosity, H. Sidky examines shamanism as an ancient magico-religious, divinatory, medical, and psychotherapeutic tradition found in various parts of the world. Sidky uses first-hand ethnographic fieldwork and scientific theoretical work in archaeology, cognitive and evolutionary psychology, and neurotheology to explore the origins of shamanism, spirit beliefs, the evolution of human consciousness, and the origins of ritual behavior and religiosity.