Religious Evolution, Prof. Michael Winkelman interview (excerpt)

Are ritual and religion a part of human evolution? What are the benefits that religion and ritual provide humanity and society? Do other animals other than humans utilize ritualistic behavior? What part do psychedelic drugs play in human evolution? Has mankind outgrown any advantages in utilizing religion? todays guest answers these questions, and many more.

Michael Winkelman earned his Ph.D. from the University of California-Irvine, and his M.P.H. (Master of Public Health) from the University of Arizona. He is an Associate Professor in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change at Arizona State University. He served as President of the Anthropology of Consciousness section of the American Anthropological Association, and was the founding President of its Anthropology of Religion Section. Winkelman has engaged in cross-cultural and interdisciplinary research on shamanism and altered states of consciousness for the past 30 years, focusing principally on the cross-cultural patterns of shamanism and identifying the associated biological bases of shamanic universals and altered states of consciousness. His principal publications on shamanism include Shamans, Priests and Witches (1992) and Shamanism: The Neural Ecology of Consciousness and Healing (2000). He has also addressed the role of psychedelic medicines in shamanism, developing neurophenomenological perspectives that link the experiences to the underlying physiological processes in his co-edited books Sacred Plants, Consciousness and Healing and Psychedelic Medicine. He has also addressed the relationships of healing and religious practices in his edited books Divination and Healing and Pilgrimages and Healing. His recent book with John Baker-- Supernatural as Natural: A Biocultural Approach to Religion-- addresses the evolutionary origins and biological bases of religion.
http://www.michaelwinkelman.com

Listen to the full interview at: http://www.gnosticmedia.com/022-religious-evolution-an-interview-with-prof-mi...

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Education

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• Michael Winkelman
• evolution
• mushrooms
• ayahuasca
• darwin