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Comment
. 2012 Apr;35(2):92-3.
doi: 10.1017/S0140525X1100104X. Epub 2012 Jan 31.

Form and function in religious signaling under pathogen stress

Paul Swartwout  1 , Benjamin Grant Purzycki, Richard Sosis
Affiliations
Comment

Form and function in religious signaling under pathogen stress

Paul Swartwout et al. Behav Brain Sci. 2012 Apr.

Abstract

The evolution of religious traditions may be partially explained by out-group avoidance due to pathogen stress. However, many religious rituals may increase rather than decrease performers' susceptibility to infection. Moreover, religions often spread through proselytizing, which requires out-group interaction; and in other cases, the benefits of economic exchange increase religious pluralism and social interactions with out-groups.

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