An Information Approach To Ritual & Religion

(-)<–(-2)-(-1)-(0)-(1)-(2)-(*)–>(+) |<——————————->| (+) Truth Empiricism Individualism Markets Sovereignty Eugenic (-) Lies Mysticism Collectivism Discretion Submission Dysgenic Religion and Ritual: (*) Ratio-empirical Consequentialism: human action under complete, operational information produces deterministic consequences. (2) Stoicism: partial but actionable information. Action and cognition directed towards the immediately calculable, operational, actionable. (1) Shinto: partial (approaching random) information. Action and cognition directed towards the replicable: precise repetition of ritual in addition to ancestor and nature worship, respectively. (0) Buddhism: random, in-actionable information. In-actionable information creates a preference for avoidance/disassociation. Action directed towards escaping conceptualization, accounting and calculation: escapism via meditation. (-1) Christianity: partial construction of collective misinformation. Action and cognition directed towards group in attempt to extend kinship altruism and create feelings of [physical] security + belonging (social security). (-2) Islam: near-complete construction of, and dependence upon, collective misinformation. Action and cognition directed towards demonstrating and enforcing submission through high-cost of ritual and opportunistic warfare against dissenters