Washington Post highlighted new research out of UBC that shows fear of vengeful gods enabled humanity’s formation of large communities and institutions.
The scientists conducted research in eight communities around the world and found that participants who believed in a moralistic God acted much more fairly towards virtual strangers.
Belief in supernatural punishment promotes cooperation and made possible humanity’s global expansion, according to lead author Benjamin Purzycki, a postdoctoral fellow at UBC’s Centre for Human Evolution, Cognition, and Culture.
Similar articles appeared in Wired UK, Daily Express, Tech Times, Psych Central, ABC Australia, Science News and other media outlets.
