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Meaning & Purpose

Spiritual Punishment

This study explores how beliefs in Divine Love and Divine Punishment vary across cultures and demographic groups. Using data from 200,000 individuals in 22 countries, we examine how factors like age, gender, education, religious attendance, and immigration status relate to these beliefs. We present cross-national comparisons and highlight cultural patterns and potential interpretation challenges. Findings will offer a foundation for future research into how sociocultural contexts shape representations of the Divine.
Researchers
 Kathryn A. Johnson A. Johnson
Kathryn A. Johnson A. Johnson
Arizona State University, Psychology
 Jeff Levin
Jeff Levin
Israel
 Richard Cowden
Richard Cowden
Harvard University, Psychology
South Africa
 Brendan Case
Brendan Case
Harvard University, Theology
 Robert Woodberry
Robert Woodberry
Baylor University, Sociology
 Matthew T. Lee
Matthew T. Lee
Baylor University/ Harvard University , Sociology
 Byron R. Johnson
Byron R. Johnson
Baylor University, Institute for Studies of Religion/Sociology
 Tyler VanderWeele
Tyler VanderWeele
Harvard University, Epidemiology / Biostatistics
 Jordan W. Moon
Jordan W. Moon
Brunel University of London
The Question:
Do you agree with the following statement? “I feel God, a god, or a spiritual force is punishing me.”