Study: belief in heaven without hell correlates with higher crime
- Does belief in heaven and a forgiving God lead to higher crime rates?
The hosts read a New Scientist article covering a University of Oregon study by psychology professor Dr. Azeem Sharif: across 143,000 people in 67 nations, countries where belief in heaven outpaces belief in hell had higher crime rates even after controlling for GDP, income inequality, population density, and life expectancy. The hosts are skeptical of the causation claim, arguing the survey respondents are cherry-picking beliefs rather than following an actual religion.
More on Apologetics
-
Simeon's question: 'what made God?' and the case against scientism
- What made God? How can a being have no beginning?
Guest Simeon Clawson names his recurring faith question: what made God, and how can a mind process a being with no beginning?
From No. 556 · A Christian Mid-Life Crisis
-
Christian Post 'Missing Heaven': what would it take to become a Christian
- What would it take for you to become a Christian?
- What would it take for you to give up on Christianity?
A host reads from a Christian Post article titled 'Missing Heaven' about the opener 'what would it take for you to become a Christian?' and argues the most interesting question…
From No. 531 · Just For The Taste Of It
-
Article: why people reject Christianity, and record unhappiness
- Can you be holy and happy at the same time?
- Are people actually unhappier than past generations, or just more willing to say so?
A host reads an article arguing that beneath surface objections, two reasons top the list for rejecting Christianity: bad experiences with professing Christians who look nothing…
From No. 519 · Folk Ain’t Happy
-
Ask the Pastor: Why Is Revelation the End?
- Why is Revelation the last book of the Bible, and how do we know the 66-book canon is closed?
Boova asks why Revelation is the last book and how the 66-book canon got closed. The answer pushes back on the 'council of old white dudes at Nicaea hid books from you' narrative:…