God from the machine : artificial intelligence models of religious cognition / William Sims Bainbridge.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bainbridge, William Sims.

Series:

Cognitive science of religion series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Religion and sociology--Computer simulation.

Religion and sociology.

Psychology, Religious--Computer simulation.

Psychology, Religious.

Computer simulation.

Physical Description:

viii, 179 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Lanham, MD : AltaMira Press, [2006]

Summary:

"God from the machine" (Deus ex machina) refers to an ancient dramatic device where a god was mechanically brought onto the stage to save the hero from a difficult situation. But here, William Sims Bainbridge uses the term in a strikingly different way. Instead of looking to a machine to deliver an already known god, he asks what a computing machine and its simulations might teach us about how religion and religious beliefs come into being. Bainbridge posits the virtual town of Cyburg, population 44,100. Then, using rules for individual and social behavior taken from the social sciences, he models a complex community where residents form groups, learn to trust or distrust each other, and develop religious faith. Bainbridge's straightforward arguments point to many more applications of computer simulation in the study of religion. God from the Machine will serve as an important text in any class with a social-scientific approach to religion.

Contents:

1 Simulation 1

2 Segregation 17

3 Recruitment 37

4 Fellowship 57

5 Trust 77

6 Cooperation 97

7 Faith 117

8 Culture 137.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 163-172) and index.

ISBN:

0759107432

0759107440

OCLC:

61478660

Publisher Number:

9780759107434