Statistical dynamics of religion evolutions

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the evolution of 18 religions over a century using statistical physics concepts, highlighting competitive dynamics and the importance of opinion-based models with vector agents.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach applying statistical physics to model religious evolution, emphasizing competitive effects and vector opinion dynamics.

Findings

Identified minima and maxima in religious adherence trends.

Highlighted the role of external influences akin to crystal growth.

Suggested opinion-based vector models over scalar ones.

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, beside the well accepted "at birth" attachement 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.