What came first: all-seeing gods or large societies?

Indonesia Berita Berita

What came first: all-seeing gods or large societies?
Indonesia Berita Terbaru,Indonesia Berita utama
  • 📰 TheEconomist
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 36 sec. here
  • 2 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 18%
  • Publisher: 92%

A search for the origin of religions

HORUS, AN ANCIENT Egyptian sky god, was often depicted as a sharp-eyed falcon. Lord Buddha’s eyes are supposed to be able to look in four directions at once. The god of Abraham sees everything, always. A “Big God” of this sort—a supernatural “eye in the sky” who cares whether people do right by others—is a feature of most of the world’s top religions. But it was not always so.

In previous research, the group identified 51 highly correlated variables that gauge a society’s complexity, such as population size, the presence of bureaucrats or paper money. They have now asked how this composite indicator of social complexity relates to the presence, or absence, of moralising gods.

That suggests Big Gods are a consequence of big societies, not a cause of them. But interrogation of Seshat revealed another religious phenomenon that played a role in driving societies towards greater complexity: frequent, collective rituals such as daily food offerings to gods. These rituals predate Big Gods in nine of the 12 regions by long periods of time, around 1,100 years on average.

Berita ini telah kami rangkum agar Anda dapat membacanya dengan cepat. Jika Anda tertarik dengan beritanya, Anda dapat membaca teks lengkapnya di sini. Baca lebih lajut:

TheEconomist /  🏆 6. in US

Indonesia Berita Terbaru, Indonesia Berita utama

Similar News:Anda juga dapat membaca berita serupa dengan ini yang kami kumpulkan dari sumber berita lain.

God, country and chickenpox: How an outbreak entangled one school in a vaccine showdownGod, country and chickenpox: How an outbreak entangled one school in a vaccine showdownJerome Kunkel, 18, was banned from his Kentucky school, which is experiencing a chickenpox outbreak, because he isn't vaccinated against the virus. Now he's suing.
Baca lebih lajut »

Supermoon, first day of spring are an astronomical doubleheader coming WednesdaySupermoon, first day of spring are an astronomical doubleheader coming WednesdayWe've got a doubleheader of astronomy action this Wednesday: the final 'supermoon' of the year and the vernal equinox, which marks the first day of spring.
Baca lebih lajut »

Women aren't risk-averse—society teaches them to be that way, study saysWomen aren't risk-averse—society teaches them to be that way, study saysScientists who studied children in matriarchal and patriarchal communities in China concluded that women are taught to be risk-averse.
Baca lebih lajut »

Steve King asked if white society is superior: “I don’t have an answer for that”Steve King asked if white society is superior: “I don’t have an answer for that”Iowa Republican congressman Steve King, who is accused by critics of sympathizing with white supremacists, calls constituent’s probing question “so hypothetical.”
Baca lebih lajut »

Ford Boosts Large SUV Output, Going All In On Bigger Is Better For NowFord Boosts Large SUV Output, Going All In On Bigger Is Better For Now
Baca lebih lajut »

Belmont's Rick Byrd brought to tears after Bruins get NCAA tournament at-large bidBelmont's Rick Byrd brought to tears after Bruins get NCAA tournament at-large bidBelmont was rewarded with its first ever at-large bid into the NCAA tournament and will face Temple in a First Four game on Tuesday.
Baca lebih lajut »

Large fire at Houston chemical plant expected to burn for daysLarge fire at Houston chemical plant expected to burn for daysThe fire erupted Sunday at Intercontinental Terminals Company in Deer Park. Authorities said Monday it will likely burn for another two days.
Baca lebih lajut »

Ford to boost profit-rich U.S. large SUV production againFord to boost profit-rich U.S. large SUV production againFord Motor Co said it will boost U.S. production of its largest sport utility ve...
Baca lebih lajut »



Render Time: 2025-03-21 21:21:25