The New Science of the Enchanted Universe

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The majority of known human societies have been organized along "immanentist" lines, where religion, gods, and spirits are integral to daily life. In these societies, plants and animals possess souls, and ancestors remain active participants in the lives of the living. This "enchanted" worldview blurs the lines between economics, politics, religion, philosophy, and culture. Approximately 2,500 years ago, during the Axial Age, a significant transformation occurred as civilizations emerged from Greece, the Near East, northern India, and China, leading to a cultural revolution. This shift created a new societal structure where religious elements transitioned from immanent to transcendent, allowing for the concept of a god or gods existing in a separate realm. In transcendentalist societies, there is a clear division of labor among economic, political, and cultural spheres. Today, these transcendentalist perspectives dominate, often leading to misinterpretations of immanentist societies through a transcendental lens. This confusion has hindered the social sciences and obscured our understanding of Indigenous religions and worldviews. Drawing on extensive ethnographic and historical research, the author presents a diagnosis of these issues and advocates for a "new science" to better comprehend the realities of immanentist societies and respect diverse cultures.