God Is Watching You: How the Fear of God Makes Us Human

by Dominic Johnson

"And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die." The biblical story of the flood crystalizes--in its terrifying, dramatic simplicity--the universally recognized concept of divine punishment. For millennia human civilizations have relied on such beliefs to create moral order. People who commit crimes or other bad deeds, we are told, will suffer retribution, while rewards--abstract or material--await those who do good. This simple but powerful idea has long served to deter self-interest and achieve remarkable levels of cooperation. Indeed, as all societies seem to have found, these beliefs are so good at promoting cooperation that they may have been favored by natural selection. Today, while secularism and unbelief are at an all-time high, the willingness to believe in some kind of payback or karma remains nearly universal. Even atheists often feel they are being monitored and judged. We find ourselves imagining what our parents, spouse, or boss would think of our thoughts and actions, even if they are miles away and will never find out. We talk of eyes burning into the backs of our heads, the walls listening, a sense that someone or something is out there, observing our every move, aware of our thoughts and intentions.God Is Watching You is an exploration of this belief as it has developed over time and how it has shaped the course of human evolution. Dominic Johnson explores such questions Was a belief in supernatural consequences instrumental in the origins of human societies? How has it affected the way human society has changed, how we live today, and how we will live in the future? Does it expand or limit the potential for local, regional and global cooperation? How will the current decline in religious belief (at least in many western countries) affect our ability to live together? And what, if anything, will temper self-interest and promote cooperation if religion declines? In short, do we still need God?Drawing on new research from anthropology, evolutionary biology, experimental psychology, and neuroscience, Johnson presents a new theory of supernatural punishment that offers fresh insight into the origins and evolution of not only religion, but also human cooperation and society. He shows that belief in supernatural reward and punishment is no quirk of western or Christian culture, but a ubiquitous part of human nature that spans geographical regions, cultures, and human history.

Genres: Religion, Psychology, Nonfiction, Atheism

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 2, 2015

Reviews

[Steve Wiggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Religion is one of those things that’s hard to define. We all know what it is when we see it, but what is it, exactly? Dominic Johnson has an interesting way of approaching the question. Holding doctorates in both evolutionary biology and political science, he wonders why humans behave the way we do. He has amassed a good deal of evidence here that the idea of a punitive, watching deity is a major driving force behind civilization. He points out that nearly all religions have an aspect of punishment involved. Some have deities and some don’t, but punishment is always part of the picture.

Building on the fact that studies show punishment to be more effective than reward, he posits that we evolved this sense that allowed us to cooperate. This is another evolutionary puzzle: why do we cooperate (at least until recently) so well as a species? We know the benefits, but it is more often the hidden fear, found even among atheists, that we will be punished if we don’t. Ideas of who or what God might be differ, but a common part of the human brain is the space left for the punishing divinity.

This is a fascinating concept. The book is a little technical in parts, but overall it’s not difficult to read. And it will make you think. If you’re willing to stretch a bit beyond the science (both evolutionary and political) the Johnson presents, some surprising answers may begin to appear. This is an insightful treatment of a subject that just won’t go away. I had a bit more to say about it here: Sects and Violence in the Ancient World.

[Robert Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a saying that “there are no atheists in foxholes.” This expression refers to the notion that, given the right dire circumstances, everyone believes in religion or Gods. The startling event of being entrenched in a hole, with bullets whizzing overhead, armed shadowed figures in the night, rapidly approaching, may galvanize the mind to revert to subconscious thought. In these mostly inaccessible regions of the brain, some believe that the process of evolution, or religious doctrine, have installed tidbits of information in some neurons that are released to the conscious mind during shocking moments. Reverent beliefs about God come to mind when exigent circumstances are present. God is thought to have the power to intervene during traumatic moments, and it is not uncommon for mortals to summon God when in such peril-- a “Hail Mary” prayer to the Virgin Mary, for the religious, or the rubbing of a rabbit foot for the spiritual. Evolutionists think that fear of harm or death caused living organisms to attach agency to things that “could” be detrimental to survival.

In his book, “God is Watching You”, Dominic Johnson writes extensively about what motivates individuals and groups to cooperate with one another. He theorizes that one's belief in religion, and the fear of punishment keeps people in sync with others. An increase in secularism, particularly in the West, has lessened the number of people who fear divine punishment. However, the slack has been picked up by an even stronger subscription to a fear of supernatural punishment. He opines that such concerns have been present since time immemorial. Thus, regardless of whether a personal usually has a superstitious mindset, his mental process changes and "comes to force where there are high stakes, elevated levels of uncertainty, a lack of control, or stress or anxiety”, Johnson implies. Religious people and atheists alike, believe that they “will suffer the consequences of [their] actions, whether from gods, spirits, or from karma, immanent justice, comeuppance, just desserts, and plain old fate.” Moreover, “The human brain is wired to adopt supernatural concepts whether we belong to a church or not”.

Johnson notes that we even invent supernatural punishment when it helps to promote cooperation (telling children not to be naughty, or Santa won't come)-- “what would your dead father think about “your actions today.” In essence, he suggests that religion (and the rituals contained therein), supernatural beliefs, and the fear of punishment from supernatural forces, all serve to force most people to cooperate (and thereby reduce “free-riders) and that cooperation is vital to our existence. I recommend this book.

[Rudolph Boshoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Religion is complicated. It involves beliefs, rituals, metaphysics, unknowable propositions, history, culture, society, scriptures, inter- pretation, personal experiences, leadership, followership, doctrine, practicality, peers, death, life, meaning, understanding, and on and on. However, all of these multifaceted concepts revolve around one thing: consequences. If people thought there were absolutely no conse- quences of religious beliefs and behaviors whatsoever, then they would not pursue them.”

[Dawid · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great read. It filled so many "holes" in my understanding of how it has come to the fact that we are so inclined to believe in the supernatural. Superbly logical and consistent arguments based on evolutionary biology as well as mathemathical models. One who has a knack for logic and science will find this book mesmerising.

[Don Heiman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dominic Johnson's 2016 book "God is Watching You" is about the power religion holds in the shaping of society based on dictates about sin and supernatural punishment. According to Johnson, these dictates influence evolutionary theories of natural cultural selection and social cooperation. His book is well referenced and captivated my interest. The writing gave me a refreshing perspective on my personal history and on current world affairs.

[Timothy Haggerty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book makes you think doing away with God not such a good idea.

Well written and clear. A lot for an athiest to come to grips with though I was fair convinced of this theory before hand.

[JustHB · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really couldnt get in to this at all - it was a real struggle. What was there was nothing new.