Skip to comments.Belief in Hell Is Associated With Reduced Crime, According to International Data
Posted on 06/26/2012 9:04:10 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Religions are thought to serve as bulwarks against unethical behaviors. However, when it comes to predicting criminal behavior, the specific religious beliefs one holds is the determining factor, says a University of Oregon psychologist.
The study, appearing in the Public Library of Science journal PLoS ONE, found that criminal activity is higher in societies where people's religious beliefs contain a strong punitive component than in places where religious beliefs are more benevolent. A country where many more people believe in heaven than in hell, for example, is likely to have a much higher crime rate than one where these beliefs are about equal. The finding surfaced from a comprehensive analysis of 26 years of data involving 143,197 people in 67 countries.
"The key finding is that, controlling for each other, a nation's rate of belief in hell predicts lower crime rates, but the nation's rate of belief in heaven predicts higher crime rates, and these are strong effects," said Azim F. Shariff, professor of psychology and director of the Culture and Morality Lab at the UO. "I think it's an important clue about the differential effects of supernatural punishment and supernatural benevolence. The finding is consistent with controlled research we've done in the lab, but here shows a powerful 'real world' effect on something that really affects people -- crime."
Last year, in the International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, Shariff reported that undergraduate students were more likely to cheat when they believe in a forgiving God than a punishing God.
Religious belief generally has been viewed as "a monolithic construct," Shariff said. "Once you split religion into different constructs, you begin to see different relationships. In this study, we found two differences that go in opposite directions.
(Excerpt) Read more at sciencedaily.com ...
I’m assuming there will be plenty of those pictures of “Captain Obvious” accompanying this thread soon enough....
I think we need to make a physical “hell” so to speak:
From Crest of the Stars Novel
Q: What does Sobach mean when he is talking to the Angusson of Robnasser II about “Abh Hell”?
A: Abh Hell is a planet in another galaxy where the 26th emperor, Dokufu, performs unimaginable scientific experiments on people who are exiled there. Only the worst criminals are sent to Abh hell. It is said that dieing would seem pleasant compared to being sent to Abh Hell. It is a place of eternal suffering and damnation. Aside from the dialogue between Angusson and Sobach, nothing else is known about Abh Hell.
If we had a “real hell” I wonder what crime rates would be like?
I think we have one already called “detroit” just need to build giant walls around it and then just drop criminals from planes into it.....
I love the movie “Ghost” because after the bad guys die, they are set upon by dark shadows that drag them away. IMHO, that is the end for all who do not believe and Keep The Faith.
Redemption is only the beginning of this life in Christ.
The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.
Unfortunately, in the USA today, the mention of “sin” and “Hell” is practically none existent. Then we wonder why those middle schoolers who made the old lady cry on the bus are so wicked. They don’t hear of sin and its consequences in church or at home. But at least they aren’t subjected to prayer at school.
Nonsense! Liberals tell us there is no correlation between punishment and crime! That’s why there isn’t a death penalty right? That’s why we have such lax punishments isn’t it? Because it just doesn’t matter. The only solution is to throw more money at it.
Does not compute. I don't know who wrote/edited this crap but I don't think it's too much to ask that two consecutive sentences shouldn't directly contradict each other.
Apparently Science Daily does not have a strong enough punitive component to deter contradictions and encourage proof reading, as the article contradicts itself
“criminal activity is higher in societies where people’s religious beliefs contain a strong punitive component than in places where religious beliefs are more benevolent.”
This means criminal activity is higher in societies who believe in Hell more than in Heaven. But which is contradicted by the next sentence and what follows.
A country where many more people believe in heaven than in hell, for example, is likely to have a much higher crime rate than one where these beliefs are about equal.
And which conflates with
“And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. “ (Job 28:28)
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. “ (Proverbs 9:10)
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