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Statistical dynamics of religion evolutions

Author

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  • Ausloos, M.
  • Petroni, F.

Abstract

A religion affiliation can be considered as a “degree of freedom” of an agent on the human genre network. A brief review is given on the state of the art in data analysis and modelization of religious “questions” in order to suggest and if possible initiate further research, after using a “statistical physics filter”. We present a discussion of the evolution of 18 so-called religions, as measured through their number of adherents between 1900 and 2000. Some emphasis is made on a few cases presenting a minimum or a maximum in the investigated time range—thereby suggesting a competitive ingredient to be considered, besides the well accepted “at birth” attachment effect. The importance of the “external field” is still stressed through an Avrami late stage crystal growth-like parameter. The observed features and some intuitive interpretations point to opinion based models with vector, rather than scalar, like agents.

Suggested Citation

  • Ausloos, M. & Petroni, F., 2009. "Statistical dynamics of religion evolutions," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 388(20), pages 4438-4444.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:388:y:2009:i:20:p:4438-4444
    DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2009.06.051
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    8. Coccia, Mario, 2014. "Socio-cultural origins of the patterns of technological innovation: What is the likely interaction among religious culture, religious plurality and innovation? Towards a theory of socio-cultural drivers of the patterns of technological innovation," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 13-25.
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    11. McCartney, Mark & Glass, David H., 2015. "A three-state dynamical model for religious affiliation," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 419(C), pages 145-152.

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