Description
Book SynopsisAnd, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die. The Flood that God used to destroy the sinful race of man on the earth in Genesis 6:17 crystalizes--in its terrifying, dramatic, simplicity--the universally recognized concept of payback. For millennia human civilization has relied on such beliefs to create a moral order that threatens divine punishment on people who commit crimes or other bad deeds, while promising rewards-abstract or material-for those who do good. Today, while secularism and unbelief are at an all-time high, this almost superstitious willingness to believe in karma persists. We find ourselves imagining what our parents, spouse, or boss would think of our thoughts and actions, even if they are miles away and will never find out. We often feel that we are being monitored. We talk of eyes burning into the backs of our heads, the walls listening, a sense that someone or something is out there, observing our every move, aware of our thoughts and intentions.God Is Watching You is an exploration of this belief as it has developed over time and how it has shaped the course of human evolution. Dominic Johnson explores questions such as: How has a concern for supernatural consequences affected the way human society has changed, how we live today, and how we will live in the future? Does it expand or limit the potential for local, regional and global cooperation today? How will the current decline in religious belief (at least in many western countries) affect selfishness and society in the future? And what, if anything, is replacing our ancient concerns for supernatural punishment as the means to temper self-interest and promote cooperation? In short, do we still need God?Drawing on new research from anthropology, evolutionary biology, experimental psychology, and neuroscience, Johnson presents a new theory of supernatural punishment that offers fresh insight on the origins and evolution of not only religion, but human cooperation and society. He shows that belief in supernatural reward and punishment is no quirk of western or Christian culture, but a ubiquitous part of human nature that spans geographical regions, cultures, and human history.
Trade ReviewA masterful synthesis of current research in the cognitive science of religion (CSR). It makes accessible a wide range of CSR literature to the general non-academic reader, while also providing a useful and compelling narrative of the extant literature for an academic audience. * Mary H. Bugbee, Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature and Culture *
Simultaneously entertaining, enlightening, and eclectically erudite, God is Watching You is a portal well worth entering, both for the dialogue it engenders and the intellectual journey it provides. * Candace S. Alcorta, Evolutionary Studies in Imaginative Culture *
Wide-ranging and consistently interesting ... vividly written and packed with arresting examples * John Gray, New Statesman *
A genuinely insightful and provocative book * Stuart Kelly, The Scotsman *
Important and impressive work ... compelling and fascinating detail * Paul Richardson, Church of England Newspaper *
This is a thought-provoking read * The Catholic Herald *
Table of ContentsChapter 1: Why Me? ; Chapter 2: Sticks and Stones ; Chapter 3: Hammer of God ; Chapter 4: God is Great ; Chapter 5: The Problem of Atheists ; Chapter 6: Guardian Angels ; Chapter 7: Nations Under God ; Chapter 8: A World Without God ; Chapter 9: God Knows ; Notes ; Index
