The paradox of faith: How existential concerns motivate both prosocial and antisocial religious behaviors

The paradox of faith: How existential concerns motivate both prosocial and antisocial religious behaviors

Religious faith is a driving force behind a substantial portion of human behavior. Yet theologically motivated action presents as a paradox: in some instances, reflecting humanistic yearnings for selflessness, giving, and tolerance; and in others, revealing aggressive, tribalistic urges for dominance and power. The present chapter applies the work of cultural anthropologist Ernest Becker and terror management theory to delineate how these divergent trends commonly emerge from human efforts to mitigate potential anxiety stemming from the awareness of death. Empirical research shows that reminders of mortality typically motivate intercultural conflict among religious groups. Additional work shows, however, that this trend is reversed under certain conditions, such that death-related concerns fuel prosocial religious behavior. Individual differences in religious orientation constitute one important moderating factor, as do the values and norms promoted in society at large, and the extent to which individuals engage in conscious, mindful encounters with the thought of their mortality.

book chapter