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  • Are supernatural threats and the concept of hell really good for society?

  • If, in addition to discussing crime rates, we broaden the scope of discussion and further

  • explore the impact of beliefs in hell and supernatural threats on public interests and

  • society as a whole, we can see sociologists putting forth various arguments both in support

  • and opposition.

  • From an evolutionary perspective, evolutionary biologist Dominic Johnson and psychologist

  • Jesse Bering proposed an intriguing theory in a paper published in Evolutionary Psychology

  • in 2006.

  • They suggest that the concept of supernatural punishment provides an evolutionary advantage

  • for human societies.

  • They argue that humans possess two characteristics that distinguish them from other species.

  • Firstly, humans instinctively use the "Theory of Mind" - the assumption that others possess

  • a mind similar to one's own, which helps explain their actions.

  • Secondly, the use of human language enables us to quickly communicate complex ideas.

  • These two features allowed early humans to leverage social constraints to control others'

  • selfish behaviors, providing an evolutionary advantage over other species.

  • For instance, chimpanzees can act selfishly in front of other chimpanzees without being

  • reported to those not present.

  • However, for humans, we know people can hear, discover, infer, remember, report, hypothesize,

  • plan, and act based on others' behaviors.

  • Meaning, if we commit harmful acts in front of others, we might face group sanctions.

  • The problem is, early humans didn't have surveillance cameras.

  • They couldn't possibly monitor everyone's actions at all times.

  • At this juncture, the concept of an all-knowing and omnipotent deity watching over you and

  • ready to punish wrongful deeds becomes extremely useful!

  • Dominic Johnson and Jesse Bering believe that over time, societies that embraced the concept

  • of a 'punishing deity' would fare better and survive longer than societies that didn't

  • believe in supernatural punishment.

  • A 2003 study by Harvard University researchers Robert J. Barro and Rachel M. McCleary found

  • that in developed countries, nations, where belief in hell outweighed belief in heaven,

  • had a higher Gross Domestic Product (GDP), seemingly supporting the aforementioned argument.

  • However, not all scientists endorse this view.

  • Evolutionary scientist Nicolas Baumard and anthropologist Pascal Boyer, in a paper published

  • in Evolutionary Psychology in 2013, pointed out that many ancient societies, including

  • the highly developed civilizations of Ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, Aztec, Inca, and Maya,

  • had organized religions.

  • But a close examination of these civilizations' religions reveals that their gods, apart from

  • demanding sacrifices and loyalty, weren't overly concerned with human morality or how

  • humans treated each other.

  • Those familiar with Greek mythology know that many gods in Greek myths had dubious moral

  • standards.

  • Yet, these aforementioned civilizations didn't stagnate or fare worse than others with 'moralized

  • religions' due to their lack of such beliefs.

  • Therefore, they challenge the theory that supernatural punishment serves as a driving

  • force for societal development.

  • On the contrary, they believe the causality is the other way around.

  • Present-day religions lean towards moralization because humans have evolved moral intuitions,

  • and religions that align with these intuitions resonate more with people, ensuring their

  • continuity.

Are supernatural threats and the concept of hell really good for society?

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B2 evolutionary supernatural concept punishment dominic deity

Morals vs Religion: Is religion needed to uphold ethical behaviour?

  • 13 0
    Jay posted on 2023/10/17
Video vocabulary

Keywords

extremely

US /ɪk'strimlɪ/

UK /ɪkˈstri:mli/

  • adverb
  • In a way that is much more than usual or expected
  • To a very great degree; very.
  • To a very great degree; very.
  • To a very great degree; very.
  • In an extreme manner or to an extreme degree.
  • Remarkably; unusually.
  • From an extreme point of view.
present

US /ˈprɛznt/

UK /'preznt/

  • other
  • To give, provide, or show something to somebody
  • To give something to someone formally or ceremonially.
  • To give (something) to someone, especially formally or as a gift.
  • Introduce (someone) to someone else.
  • Give or offer (something) to someone.
  • To put on a performance or show.
  • To show or display something.
  • adjective
  • Being in a particular place.
  • Being in a particular place.
  • Being in a particular place; attending or existing.
  • Being in attendance; being there; having turned up
  • Existing or occurring now.
  • Being in a particular place; existing or occurring now.
  • Existing or occurring now.
  • other
  • Be in a particular place.
  • To be in a particular place.
  • To be in a particular place.
  • noun
  • Gift
  • Verb tense indicating an action is happening now
  • Current time; now
  • The period of time now occurring.
  • verb
  • To introduce someone to others
  • To host a program on television or radio
  • To give a speech or presentation
  • To show something to someone who will examine it
  • To appear or happen
  • To give an award or prize to someone
  • other
  • The period of time now occurring.
gross

US /ɡros/

UK /ɡrəʊs/

  • noun
  • 144 of something; twelve dozen of something
  • Total sum of money earned before costs and taxes
  • A group of 144 items (12 dozens).
  • A group of 144 items; twelve dozen.
  • Total weight of something including packaging
  • verb
  • To earn an amount of money before costs and taxes
  • adjective
  • Nasty; ill-mannered; unappealing
  • Total; entire; without deductions.
  • Vulgar; crude; disgusting.
  • other
  • To earn as a total amount, before deductions.
  • other
  • Total earnings before deductions.
reveal

US /rɪˈvil/

UK /rɪ'vi:l/

  • verb
  • To show something that was hidden before
embrace

US /ɛmˈbres/

UK /ɪm'breɪs/

  • noun
  • Act of holding someone closely
  • An act of accepting or supporting something willingly and enthusiastically.
  • An act of holding someone tightly in your arms.
  • An act of accepting something enthusiastically.
  • An act of holding someone tightly in one's arms.
  • An act of holding someone tightly in one's arms.
  • verb
  • To hold closely; cuddle, kiss or hug
  • other
  • To accept something enthusiastically.
  • To accept a belief or idea willingly.
  • To hug or hold someone tightly, usually to show affection.
  • To include something as part of a whole.
  • To take advantage of an opportunity.
concept

US /ˈkɑnˌsɛpt/

UK /'kɒnsept/

  • noun
  • Abstract idea of something or how it works
  • A plan or intention; a conception.
  • An abstract idea; a general notion.
  • An understanding or grasp of something.
ancient

US /ˈenʃənt/

UK /'eɪnʃənt/

  • adjective
  • Very old; having lived a very long time ago
  • Relating to a period in history, especially in the distant past.
  • Very old; antiquated.
  • Having been in existence for a very long time; traditional.
  • Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence.
  • noun
  • A person who lived in ancient times.
evolve

US /ɪˈvɑlv/

UK /ɪ'vɒlv/

  • other
  • To develop gradually.
  • To develop gradually, especially from a simple to a more complex form.
  • verb
  • To change or develop gradually.
  • To develop gradually.
  • To develop certain features
  • To develop or change slowly over time
  • To slowly change or develop into something better
  • other
  • To develop (something) gradually.
advantage

US /ædˈvæntɪdʒ/

UK /əd'vɑ:ntɪdʒ/

  • noun
  • A condition or circumstance that puts one in a favorable or superior position.
  • Thing making the chance of success higher
  • Benefit or profit gained from something.
  • A positive point about something
  • other
  • Benefit resulting from some course of action.
  • other
  • To make use of something, especially to further one's own position; exploit.
force

US /fɔrs, fors/

UK /fɔ:s/

  • other
  • To break open (something) using force.
  • To compel (someone) to do something.
  • To cause (a plant or crop) to develop or mature prematurely in a greenhouse or under artificial conditions.
  • To cause (a plant or flower) to grow or develop at an increased rate.
  • To use physical strength to break open or move (something).
  • other
  • Coercion or compulsion; strength or power exerted to cause motion or change.
  • Strength or energy as an attribute of physical action or movement.
  • other
  • Coercion or compulsion; strength or power exerted to cause or affect.
  • An influence or effect.
  • Physical strength or energy as an attribute of physical action or movement.
  • Strength or energy as an attribute of physical action or movement.
  • noun
  • Coercion or compulsion, especially with the use or threat of violence.
  • Group of persons trained for military action; army
  • A body of people employed and trained for a particular task or purpose.
  • An influence or effect.
  • A body of people employed and trained for law enforcement.
  • A body of soldiers or police.
  • An influence that can cause a body to accelerate.
  • Pressure; attraction
  • Strength or energy as an attribute of physical action or movement.
  • The use of physical strength/violence to persuade
  • Strength or power of expression or argument.
  • verb
  • To use physical strength or violence to persuade