# On religion and language evolutions seen through mathematical and agent based models

**Authors:** M. Ausloos  
**arXiv:** [1103.5382](https://arxiv.org/abs/1103.5382)  
**Date:** 2011-03-28  
**Summary page:** https://www.summarizepaper.com/en/paper/1103.5382v1/

## Key points

- Religions and languages are social variables that should be studied as organizational parameters
- Religiosity is one of the most significant sociological aspects of populations
- Both religions and languages undergo changes over time as they adapt to societal developments
- The number of adherents to a religion or speakers of a language is not fixed, raising questions about their existence, distribution, lifespan, and evolutionary patterns
- The study explores how many religions/languages exist simultaneously and examines their distribution and evolution
- Agent-based models are used to describe macroscopic aspects of religious and linguistic dynamics
- An attachment process plays a crucial role in the distribution evolution of religions and languages
- Historical facts and data are used as examples to illustrate these dynamics
- Characteristic time scales differ between religions and languages
- External fields have relevance in understanding religious dynamics

## Summary

In this study, the authors explore the evolution of religions and languages through mathematical and agent-based models. They argue that religions and languages are social variables, similar to age, sex, wealth, or political opinions, and should be studied as organizational parameters. Religiosity is identified as one of the most significant sociological aspects of populations. The authors highlight that both religions and languages undergo changes over time as they adapt to societal developments. While new religions and languages emerge, others disappear. It is emphasized that the number of adherents to a particular religion or speakers of a language is not fixed. This raises several questions regarding their existence at a given time, distribution, lifespan, and evolutionary patterns. From a macroscopic perspective, the study explores how many religions/languages exist simultaneously and examines their distribution and evolution. On a microscopic level, the authors investigate whether agent-based models can accurately describe macroscopic aspects of these phenomena. They also inquire about the existence of simple evolution equations for studying religious and linguistic dynamics. The research suggests that an attachment process plays a crucial role in the distribution evolution of religions and languages. Typically, individuals tend to adopt the religion or language of their mother initially. However, changes can occur due to heterogeneous agent interaction processes or external field constraints—or both. To illustrate these dynamics, historical facts and data are used as examples. The authors emphasize that characteristic time scales differ between religions and languages. Additionally, they underscore the relevance of external fields in understanding religious dynamics—a factor that makes studying them within a mechanistic approach even more intriguing. Overall, this study provides insights into the complex nature of religious and linguistic evolutions by employing mathematical models and statistical analyses.