The investigational question tackled in this document is about whether religious convictions facilitate valuable behaviors and whether these helpful behaviors have a wide significance on a variety of individuals in society. The question being addressed is determining any relationship between religion and the social aspect among a group of people living at a certain place.
These questions are not conversely meaningless. They have an important role as those spiritual feelings that have been provoked through experimentation, lessen the deceitful thoughts and in turn boost to higher levels the philanthropic behaviors, for instance, unselfishness, charity, generosity, good-heartedness as well as benevolent characters among unidentified foreigners. This can generally be termed humanitarianism. The religious behavior which at large acts as an indisputable commitment promotes cooperation, togetherness, and conviction. Vast societies which have victoriously established cooperative standards are likely to show trust in decently troubled gods who scrutinize human beings’ interaction. Religious thoughts facilitate interactions among individuals even when they are unknown to each other (Norenzayan, 2008, p.4).
Nevertheless, some special research was carried out before these questions were answered. University students were first allocated a task where they were nonchalantly told that a ghost of a fellow dead student had been noticed inside the investigational room. Resentful cases were less on a manipulated computer mission. In another theoretical study, perceptions about the impermanent, cataleptic establishment of god lowered the cases of cheating. Children were also instructed not to look into a box with which they were left in a room. Few who knew the presence of a supernatural being watching over them didn’t look. The two investigations carried out proved that religious beliefs promote cooperation among large groups of people furthermore, not only reducing cases of cheating but also boosting generosity towards foreigners. This research verified a close connection between perceptible vocations of spiritual dedication and immense conviction. This is attributable to the cultural extension of religious pro-sociality.
These results answered the question as the research revealed traverse cultural evidence that suggested a connection between the existence of a culture carrying divine beings and a large group of other individuals. Therefore, religious beliefs have a special impact on the interactions among persons in society with the inclusion of strangers.
An experiment that takes in hand with the question of the study involves a group of students regularly advised not to steal. They are then purposely locked in a room with the presence of the teacher’s coins scattered all over the floor. Those students who have ever been in a religious class will not attempt to steal but will keep the teacher’s money safely and then hand it over on his arrival. However, those kids who don’t have any religious perspective will be inclined to steal. This is because those in a religious class believe in the presence of a supernatural being who will be watching over you while stealing. Consequently, religious convictions have a close connection with pro-sociality among individuals in a society.
The conclusion that the authors have made is quite legitimate but at the same time invalid. It’s legitimate when he mentions the pro-social inspirations. For example, understanding and kindness, which he later declares as being necessities in religious prosociality. The conclusion is relevant when the author addresses research for the removal of boundaries between religious believers and unbelievers. On the other hand, this part of the context is invalid. Since the context has focused on the positive contributions of religious belief on the social well-being of persons, there is no need of mentioning the conflict and competition that will arise during cooperation among individuals. This part of the conclusion is irrelevant and not well backed up too.
Despite the contradictory part of the conclusion, I like the paper. This is because the document discourages the lack of faith and trust in God. This is realized especially when the manuscript reveals some of the benefits that can be achieved in Christianity. For instance, cheating is discouraged and cooperation is attained among people.
Reference List
Norenzayan A, S. (2008). The origins and evolution of religious prosociality. Science 322:58-62.