Welcome!
The site Institute for the Bio-Cultural Study of religion (ibcsr.org) has moved to Center for Mind and Culture (mindandculture.org) in order to consolidate our distinct projects under one digital roof.
The Center for Mind and Culture (CMAC) is dedicated to developing innovative solutions for complex social issues by integrating insights from diverse fields such as cognitive science, anthropology, psychology, and data science. The aim is to bridge the gap between scientific and humanities research to better understand the interplay between human minds and dynamic cultures.
The Institute for the Bio-cultural Study of Religion conducted non-partisan research in the scientific study of religion, combining:
- The computational sciences (e.g. modeling and simulation, semantic network analysis, machine learning, analysis of massive datasets)
- The sciences of brains and bodies (e.g. neuroscience, cognitive psychology, evolutionary biology, medicine)
- The sciences of culture (e.g. sociology, anthropology, political economy, history)
The interplay of cultures, brains, and biology is a continuous feedback loop, rendering the nature-versus-nurture debate in religion unresolvable. Biology shapes culture but does not dictate it, while culture influences behavior without having the final say. Neither side speaks the last word—both remain in constant dialogue. Through integrated research methodologies, we uncover the answers that truly matter.
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You’ll find the relevant content from Institute for the Bio-Cultural Study here or by navigating to the appropriate categories in the drop-down menu to the right of any blog post.
We also encourage you to take advantage of the wealth of resources and research projects that display the mission and work of the Center for Mind and Culture.