Alliances and ritual ecstasy: human responses to resource stress

Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion • Vol/Iss. 26 • Published In 1987 • 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.

Hypotheses (3)
Hypothesis	Supported
"Where resource stress is most severe, the most important deities tend to be conceptualized in terms of celestial entities" (87).	Supported
Societies with a high dependence on animals will be more likely to have zoomorphic deities (88).	Supported
In areas where agricultural or more complex societies have had a major impact on hunter/gatherer economies, high gods will be more important (88).	Supported

Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: Kate Cummings Megan Farrer

Alliances and ritual ecstasy: human responses to resource stress

Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion • Vol/Iss. 26 • Published In 1987 • Pages: 81-91 • Cite

By Hayden, Brian

Abstract

Hypotheses (3)

Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion • Vol/Iss. 26 • Published In 1987 • Pages: 81-91 •