title: Clarity and causality needed in claims about Big Gods.
abstract: We welcome Norenzayan et al.'s claim that the prosocial effects of beliefs in supernatural agents extend beyond Big Gods. To date, however, supporting evidence has focused on the Abrahamic Big God, making generalisations difficult. We discuss a recent study that highlights the need for clarity about the causal path by which supernatural beliefs affect the evolution of big societies.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology,University of Auckland,Private Bag 92019,Auckland 1142,New Zealand.me@josephwatts.orghttp://www.josephwatts.org.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Watts
authors.affiliation: School of Art History,Classics and Religious Studies,Victoria University of Wellington,Wellington 6012,New Zealand.joseph.bulbulia@vuw.ac.nzhttp://www.josephbulbulia.com/
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bulbulia
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology,University of Auckland,Private Bag 92019,Auckland 1142,New Zealand.me@josephwatts.orghttp://www.josephwatts.org.
authors.forename: Russell D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology,University of Auckland,Private Bag 92019,Auckland 1142,New Zealand.me@josephwatts.orghttp://www.josephwatts.org.
authors.forename: Quentin D
authors.initials: QD
authors.lastname: Atkinson
mesh_terms: D005075:Biological Evolution; D012067:Religion