Table of Contents

List of Illustrations ix Acknowledgments xi The Eight Principles of Big Gods xiii Chapter 1 Religious Evolution 1 Chapter 2 S upernatural Watchers 13 Chapter 3 Pressure from Above 33 Chapter 4 I n Big Gods We Trust 55 Chapter 5 Freethinkers as Freeriders 76 Chapter 6 True Believers 94 Chapter 7 Big Gods for Big Groups 118 Chapter 8 The Gods of Cooperation and Competition 140 Chapter 9 From Religious Cooperation to Religious Conflict 155 Chapter 10 Cooperation without God 170 Notes 193 References 215 Index 243

About the Author

Ara Norenzayan is professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia. His work has been featured on CNN and in the "New York Times Magazine", the "Economist", "Der Spiegel", the "Boston Globe", the "Toronto Star", "Scientific American", and "New Scientist". He grew up in Beirut and lives in Vancouver.

Reviews

"Ranging across quantitative studies, historical cross-cultural examples, theological texts, and the practices of believers, Norenzayan convincingly argues that religions with Big Gods are successful because they generate a sense of being watched and regulated, require extravagant displays of commitment that weed out religious impostors, and encourage solidarity and trust."--Publishers Weekly "I found this book insightful, well-written, and to the point."--Tyler Cowen, Marginal Revolution