Religious belief and cooperation: a view from Viking-Age Scandinavia
Benjamin Raffield|Neil Price|Mark Collard
This study focuses on two hypotheses at the heart of a debate concerning cooperation, socio-political complexity, and religious belief. One these contends that moralizing high gods (MHGs) were central to development complex societies. The key mechanism here is supernatural monitoring, which perception observe humans punish those who commit transgressions. other hypothesis – broad punishment (BSP) it was fear monitoring by non-MHG deities fostered MHGs followed rather than preceded appearance To test between hypotheses, we examined evidence for pre-Christian beliefs in Viking-Age Scandinavia (c. 750–1050 CE). We sought answers questions: (1) did Vikings perceive themselves subject punishment? And (2) Norse MHGs? indicates believed be monitored entities some contexts, they could punished certain However, do not meet all criteria recognition as MHGs. Taken together, findings support idea complexity
Religion, Brain & Behavior