Review of Big Gods: How Religion Transformed Cooperation and Conflict

Thomas J. Coleman

doi:10.5334/snr.an

Abstract

<em>Big Gods: How Religion Transformed Cooperation and Conflict</em>, presents an empirically grounded rational reconstruction detailing the role that belief in “big gods” (i.e., omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent gods) has played in the formation of society from a cultural-evolutionary perspective. Ara Norenzayan’s primary thesis is neatly summed up in the title of the book: religion has historically served—and perhaps still serves—as a building block and maintenance system in societies around the world.

Highlights

Despite being about religious ideas, Norenzayan devotes significant attention to the question of how atheists fit into the narrative
This thesis consists of eight central claims, which Norenzayan defends by drawing on empirical research from fields such as archaeology, sociology, cognitive science, and the psychology of religion
As Norenzayan claims in his eight-point summary, there is a link between belief in big gods and trust, the flip side of which is that nonbelievers are untrustworthy

Summary

Introduction

Despite being about religious ideas, Norenzayan devotes significant attention to the question of how atheists (and other nonreligious individuals) fit into the narrative. T J, III 2014 Review of Big Gods: How Religion Transformed Cooperation and Conflict. Review of Big Gods: How Religion Transformed Cooperation and Conflict

Results

Conclusion