According to The Christian Post, new study results released by a University of Oregon psychologist seem to suggest that religious punishment does actually lower unethical behavior. Researcher Azim F. Shariff told the local news outlet, “It seems like there is a case to be made for the causal direction that religious punishment does actually lower unethical behavior, where as forgiveness does seem to license people.”
The study took a sample survey from 143,197 people in 67 countries over a span of 26 years. The results concluded that in countries where people believe in hell and a punitive God, crime rates are lower. In countries where people believe in heaven and a forgiving savior, crime rates are higher.
“I think it’s an important clue about the differential effects of supernatural punishment and supernatural benevolence. The finding is consistent with controlled research we’ve done in the lab, but here shows a powerful ‘real world’ effect on something that really affects people—crime,” he added.
Shariff said the study findings show that supernatural belief systems are a reliable means by which to evoke behavior change.
