The power of religion
Journal of Economic Growth • Vol/Iss. Online only • Springer • • Published In • Pages: 1-34 •
By Bentzen, Jeanet Sinding , Gokmen, Gunes
Hypothesis
Priests and witches/sorcerers are more common in stratified societies than in unstratified societies.
Note
This hypothesis tests the theory that stratified societies place an emphasis on intervening and punishing gods as they are useful for power purposes. In this case, priests (who create divine legitimacy) and witches/sorcerers (who deal with punishment) serve as proxies for the emphasis on divine legitimization and punishment brought by moralizing high gods. They also show that other religious functionaries with no relation to divine legitimacy or punishment (mediums, healers, and shamans) are equally likely to be present in stratified and unstratified societies.
| Test Name | Support | Significance | Coefficient | Tail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary Least Squares | Supported | p<.01 | UNKNOWN | UNKNOWN |
| Variable Name | Variable Type | OCM Term(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Stratified Society | Independent | Social Stratification |
| Presence of Witches/Sorcerers | Dependent | Sorcery |
| Presence of Priests | Dependent | Priesthood |
| Presence of Mediums | Dependent | Magicians And Diviners |
| Presence of Healers | Dependent | Shamans And Psychotherapists |
| Presence of Shamans | Dependent | Shamans And Psychotherapists |