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Memes and the evolution of religion: We need memetics, too

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 March 2016

Susan Blackmore
Susan Blackmore*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Plymouth, Portland Square, Plymouth PL4 8AA, United Kingdom. susan.blackmore@virgin.nethttp://www.susanblackmore.uk
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Abstract

In their analysis, Norenzayan et al. completely ignore memetics, which, unlike other theories, treats memes as replicators and looks to memetic as well as genetic advantage. Now that memes are evolving ever faster, genetic advantage is less relevant. So when religious and secular values are at odds, we need a memetic analysis to understand what is going on.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 39 , 2016 , e5
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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References

Blackmore, S. J. (1999) The meme machine. Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Dawkins, R. (1976) The selfish gene. Oxford University Press (new edition with additional material, 1989).Google Scholar
Dawkins, R. (1993) Viruses of the mind. In: Dennett and his critics: Demystifying mind, ed. Dahlbohm, B., pp. 13–27. Blackwell.Google Scholar
Dennett, D. C. (2006) Breaking the spell: Religion as a natural phenomenon. Allen Lane.Google Scholar