Art performances and religious rituals: How transformative experiences can foster knowledge
October 7, 2021 Valerie van Mulukom, Armin W. Geertz, Robert W. Clark et al. 2 citations preprint
Art and religion function as symbolic systems that transform subjective knowledge into concrete, memorable, and shareable forms through symbols and material artifacts. Drawing on past sociologists, anthropologists, philosophers, and current cognitive research, the authors argue that both phenomena serve as repositories of meaning, encapsulating emotions, experiences, and beliefs. The self-transcendent nature of art and religious experiences enhances symbol significance, conveying rich meanings beyond descriptive language. Aligned with aesthetic cognitivism, art offers unique cognitive contributions beyond decoration. The strength of art and religion lies in their existence within imagination, underscoring the centrality of meaning-making in shaping societies by preserving and disseminating subjective knowledge beyond language's confines.