The recent spate of articles and books purporting to explain the origin of religion without God talking to man has produced some wild talking points.
In "Satan, the great motivator" Michael Fitzgerald (November 15, 2009), relying on his research as a Templeton-Cambridge Journalism Fellow, advises
A pair of Harvard researchers recently examined 40 years of data from dozens of countries, trying to sort out the economic impact of religious beliefs or practices. They found that religion has a measurable effect on developing economies - and the most powerful influence relates to how strongly people believe in hell.
Most likely, belief in hell correlates with the idea that one's actions matter in the long run. Fitzgerald outlines research on how religion aids social development, principally by creating greater levels of public trust. We learn, for example, that ultra-Orthodox Jews have dominated New York City’s diamond trade "because of levels of trust based on religion"(and Antwerp too).
Two questions nag: This may all work out in a free and tolerant society.In a religiously divided and intolerant society, religious-based trust covers only "true believers" - the Other (people) are treated with distrust and hostility. That is hardly a recipe for social development, or even social peace. In North America, religion increases trust because of a historically high level of tolerance, as well as commitment.
The other nagging question is, should we pursue religion for the sake of prosperity? You never read that in the Bible, quite the opposite. If people want religion for prosperity, wouldn't it just be organized hypocrisy, propped up by fear of hell? People who have a loving relationship with God do not fear hell.
To examine this topic further, consider:
religious tolerance in North America and religious freedom
Denyse O'Leary is co-author of The Spiritual Brain.
Comments
Of course we shouldn't pursue religion for its effects. We should decide if the claims of religion are true or not and pursue it accordingly. Anything else is just a fallacious argument from consequences, or worse, a cynical manipulation.
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