Clarity and causality needed in claims about Big Gods

Joseph Watts; Joseph Bulbulia; Russell Gray; Quentin D. Atkinson

doi:10.1017/S0140525X15000576

Clarity and causality needed in claims about Big Gods

Joseph Watts, Joseph Bulbulia, Russell Gray, Quentin D. Atkinson

Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › peer-review

Abstract

We welcome Norenzayan et al.'s claim that the prosocial effects of beliefs in supernatural agents extend beyond Big Gods. To date, however, supporting evidence has focused on the Abrahamic Big God, making generalisations difficult. We discuss a recent study that highlights the need for clarity about the causal path by which supernatural beliefs affect the evolution of big societies

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	41-42
Journal	Behavioral and Brain Sciences
Volume	39
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X15000576
Publication status	Published - 2016

Access to Document

10.1017/S0140525X15000576

Cite this

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title = "Clarity and causality needed in claims about Big Gods",

abstract = "We welcome Norenzayan et al.'s claim that the prosocial effects of beliefs in supernatural agents extend beyond Big Gods. To date, however, supporting evidence has focused on the Abrahamic Big God, making generalisations difficult. We discuss a recent study that highlights the need for clarity about the causal path by which supernatural beliefs affect the evolution of big societies",

author = "Joseph Watts and Joseph Bulbulia and Russell Gray and Atkinson, {Quentin D.}",

year = "2016",

doi = "10.1017/S0140525X15000576",

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pages = "41--42",

journal = "Behavioral and Brain Sciences",

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AU - Bulbulia, Joseph

AU - Gray, Russell

AU - Atkinson, Quentin D.

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AB - We welcome Norenzayan et al.'s claim that the prosocial effects of beliefs in supernatural agents extend beyond Big Gods. To date, however, supporting evidence has focused on the Abrahamic Big God, making generalisations difficult. We discuss a recent study that highlights the need for clarity about the causal path by which supernatural beliefs affect the evolution of big societies

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DO - 10.1017/S0140525X15000576

M3 - Letter

VL - 39

SP - 41

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JO - Behavioral and Brain Sciences

JF - Behavioral and Brain Sciences

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