tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051713021757781960.post3992123408729816436..comments2023-10-31T10:57:37.652+00:00Comments on Epiphenom: Fear and GodEpiphenomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05420404206189437710noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051713021757781960.post-1826866563784376142011-06-22T21:24:38.269+01:002011-06-22T21:24:38.269+01:00Anon: Income inequality seems to be a good, genera...Anon: Income inequality seems to be a good, generalised measure of societal health. An you're right that it does connect with religion. In fact I showed a correlation with prayer frequency, even after taking into account other factors linked to religion, in a paper published back in 2009 (you can see the <a href="http://epiphenom.fieldofscience.com/2009/07/why-some-countries-are-more-religious.html" rel="nofollow">blog post about it here</a>). <a href="http://epiphenom.fieldofscience.com/2009/11/income-inequality-drives-church.html" rel="nofollow">Another study</a> showed a similar effect with Church attendance.Epiphenomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05420404206189437710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051713021757781960.post-87362689883116312011-06-22T21:18:38.940+01:002011-06-22T21:18:38.940+01:00Dutch, yes there are lots of ways that demagogues ...Dutch, yes there are lots of ways that demagogues can stir up fear. What this study suggests is that one tool is to focus on the 'punishment' aspects of religion. People can promote hell in order to stir up more generalised fear.Epiphenomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05420404206189437710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051713021757781960.post-49079858571532478012011-06-22T20:29:55.306+01:002011-06-22T20:29:55.306+01:00This fear index correlates well with GINI index (i...This fear index correlates well with GINI index (it misures income inequality, the greater the index the greater the inequality):<br /><br />Spain 34.7<br />Greece 34.3<br />Ireland 34.3<br />Italy 36<br />UK 36<br />France 32.7<br />Netherlands 30.9<br />Finland 26.9<br />Sweden 25<br />Denmark 24.7<br /><br />It seems that more inequality is linked to a more fearfull society.<br /><br />And, even without checking, I would say that more inequality correlates to more belive in God; but I'd also say that the correlation between inequality and church attendance is there, but is not as stronger as to belive in God.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051713021757781960.post-19269350684758578552011-06-22T05:12:45.652+01:002011-06-22T05:12:45.652+01:00I am told that fearful people seek religion. You a...I am told that fearful people seek religion. You are saying that religion creates fearful people. Any ideologue, religious or not, can do that. Rally round the flag. Weapons of mass destruction. Illegal alien. I suspect that The Tea Party is not operating out of fear because of a belief in hell.<br /><br />I agree that there is some correlation. But I suspect an agenda. The interjection of some brain science is a distraction. I may have missed it but I didn't see a use of that information in the paper. Belief in Hell needs to be unpacked. Do they want hell for those who are causing them to be fearful or do they fear hell for themselves. People who feel persecuted think apocalyptically.<br /><br />Just thinking.Dutch Bieberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18233637648748812712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051713021757781960.post-20055818333816770852011-06-21T14:20:52.908+01:002011-06-21T14:20:52.908+01:00Interesting article. I thought it well worth menti...Interesting article. I thought it well worth mentioning that the concept of the "fear of God" which is biblical, really means something more related to respect & honour. It's not the negative, trembling in our boots kind of fear. To conclude, biblical fear of God is one thing and ignorant public fear of God is another.Catherine Gladwinnoreply@blogger.com