The moralization bias of gods’ minds: a cross-cultural test

Religion, Brain, and Behavior Vol/Iss. 12(1-2) Taylor and Francis Published In Pages: 38-60
By Purzycki, Benjamin Grant, Willard, Aiyana K., Klocová, Eva Kundtová, Apicella, Coren, Atkinson, Quentin D., Bolyanatz, Alexander, Cohen, Emma, Handley, Carla, Henrich, Joseph, Lang, Martin, Lesorogol, Carolyn, Mathew, Sarah, McNamara, Rita A., Moya, Cristina, Norenzayan, Ara, Placek, Caitlyn D., Soler, Montserrat, Vardy, Tom, Weigel, Jonathan, Xygalatas, Dimitris, Ross, Cody T.

Hypothesis

Moral concern attributed to local deities is lower when the dominant religion (i.e. that of the moralizing deity) is hostile or antagonistic towards the local deity.

Note

This is noticed largely in the cases where the moralizing deity is the Christian god.

Test

Test NameSupportSignificanceCoefficientTail
Descriptive StatisticsSupportedUNKNOWNUNKNOWNUNKNOWN