God from the Machine: Artificial Intelligence Models of Religious Cognition

by William Sims Bainbridge

Overview

'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 to 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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780759107441
Publisher:	AltaMira Press
Publication date:	04/25/2006
Series:	Cognitive Science of Religion Series
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	188
Product dimensions:	6.42(w) x 8.98(h) x 0.47(d)

About the Author

William Sims Bainbridge is director of the Science and Engineering Information Integration and Informatics Program at the National Science Foundation, as well as adjunct professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at George Mason University. He is the author or editor of over 20 books including The Future for Religion, A Theory of Religion, and the Berkshire Encyclopedia Of Human-Computer Interaction.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 List of Figures and Tables Chapter 2 Simulation Chapter 3 Segregation Chapter 4 Recruitment Chapter 5 Fellowship Chapter 6 Trust Chapter 7 Cooperation Chapter 8 Faith Chapter 9 Culture Chapter 10 References Chapter 11 Index Chapter 12 About the Author