If, in addition to discussing crime rates, we broaden the scope of discussion and further

如果我們除了討論犯罪率之外，擴大討論範圍，進一步

explore the impact of beliefs in hell and supernatural threats on public interests and

探討地獄信仰和超自然威脅對公共利益和

society as a whole, we can see sociologists putting forth various arguments both in support

整個社會的影響，我們可以看到社會學家提出了各種支持

and opposition.

和反對的論點。

From an evolutionary perspective, evolutionary biologist Dominic Johnson and psychologist

從演化的角度來看，演化生物學家多明尼克·約翰遜和心理學家 傑西·貝林

Jesse Bering proposed an intriguing theory in a paper published in Evolutionary Psychology

在2006年 發表在《演化心理學》上的一篇論文中提出了一個有趣的理論。

in 2006.

他們認為超自然懲罰的概念

They suggest that the concept of supernatural punishment provides an evolutionary advantage

為人類社會 提供了演化優勢

for human societies.

。

They argue that humans possess two characteristics that distinguish them from other species.

他們認為人類擁有兩個有別於其他物種的特徵。

Firstly, humans instinctively use the "Theory of Mind" - the assumption that others possess

首先，人類本能地使用「心智理論」──假設他人擁有

a mind similar to one's own, which helps explain their actions.

與自己相似的心智，有助於解釋他們的行為。

Secondly, the use of human language enables us to quickly communicate complex ideas.

其次，人類語言的使用使我們能夠快速溝通複雜的想法。

These two features allowed early humans to leverage social constraints to control others'

這兩個特徵使早期人類能夠利用社會約束來控制他人的

selfish behaviors, providing an evolutionary advantage over other species.

自私行為，從而提供了優於其他物種的演化優勢。

For instance, chimpanzees can act selfishly in front of other chimpanzees without being

例如，黑猩猩可以在其他黑猩猩面前表現自私，而不會

reported to those not present.

向不在場的人報告。

However, for humans, we know people can hear, discover, infer, remember, report, hypothesize,

然而，對於人類來說，我們知道人們可以聽到、發現、推論、記憶、報告、假設、

plan, and act based on others' behaviors.

計劃和根據他人的行為採取行動。

Meaning, if we commit harmful acts in front of others, we might face group sanctions.

這意味著，如果我們在他人面前做出有害行為，我們可能會面臨集體制裁。

The problem is, early humans didn't have surveillance cameras.

問題是，早期人類沒有監視攝影機。

They couldn't possibly monitor everyone's actions at all times.

他們不可能時時刻刻監控所有人的一舉一動。

At this juncture, the concept of an all-knowing and omnipotent deity watching over you and

在這個時候，全知全能的神靈在看著你並

ready to punish wrongful deeds becomes extremely useful!

準備懲罰你的錯誤行為，這個概念就變得非常有用了！

Dominic Johnson and Jesse Bering believe that over time, societies that embraced the concept

多明尼克·約翰遜和傑西·白令相信，隨著時間的推移，接受

of a 'punishing deity' would fare better and survive longer than societies that didn't

「懲罰之神」概念的社會會比不相信

believe in supernatural punishment.

超自然懲罰的社會過得更好，生存得更長久。

A 2003 study by Harvard University researchers Robert J. Barro and Rachel M. McCleary found

哈佛大學研究人員羅伯特·J·巴羅（Robert J. Barro）和雷切爾·M·麥克利裡（Rachel M. McCleary）2003年的一項研究發現，在已開發國家，那些對地獄的信仰

that in developed countries, nations, where belief in hell outweighed belief in heaven,

超過對天堂的信念的國家，其國內

had a higher Gross Domestic Product (GDP), seemingly supporting the aforementioned argument.

生產總值（GDP）更高，這似乎支持了上述論點。

However, not all scientists endorse this view.

然而，並非所有科學家都贊同這一觀點。

Evolutionary scientist Nicolas Baumard and anthropologist Pascal Boyer, in a paper published

演化科學家尼古拉斯·鮑馬爾和人類學家帕斯卡·博耶在2013年《進化心理學》發表的論文中指出

in Evolutionary Psychology in 2013, pointed out that many ancient societies, including

，許多古代社會，包括

the highly developed civilizations of Ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, Aztec, Inca, and Maya,

古埃及、希臘、羅馬、阿茲特克、印加、瑪雅等高度發達的文明，

had organized religions.

都曾組織過宗教。

But a close examination of these civilizations' religions reveals that their gods, apart from

但仔細檢視這些文明的宗教就會發現，他們的神除了

demanding sacrifices and loyalty, weren't overly concerned with human morality or how

要求犧牲和忠誠之外，並不太關心人類道德或

humans treated each other.

人類如何對待彼此。

Those familiar with Greek mythology know that many gods in Greek myths had dubious moral

熟悉希臘神話的人都知道，希臘神話中的許多神靈的道德

standards.

標準都是可疑的。

Yet, these aforementioned civilizations didn't stagnate or fare worse than others with 'moralized

然而，上述這些文明並沒有 因為缺乏這種信仰而

religions' due to their lack of such beliefs.

停滯不前，也沒有比其他擁有「道德宗教」的文明表現得更糟

Therefore, they challenge the theory that supernatural punishment serves as a driving

。因此，他們挑戰了超自然懲罰作為

force for societal development.

社會發展動力的

On the contrary, they believe the causality is the other way around.

理論 。 相反，他們認​​為因果關係是相反的。

Present-day religions lean towards moralization because humans have evolved moral intuitions,

當今的宗教傾向於道德化，因為人類已經進化出了道德直覺，

and religions that align with these intuitions resonate more with people, ensuring their

而符合這些直覺的宗教更能引起人們的共鳴，確保其

continuity.

延續性。