Religion: is it always tribal? asked by Connor Wood at Patheos

[science4ever]

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/scienceonreligion/2013/07/religion-is-it-always-tribal/

 

He says that

 

intense, painful rituals actually inspire people to be more generous with their groups – and even to identify with larger collectives beyond their religious affiliation.

 

this is a very well known phenomena. Schools has such initiation rites and even at work you go through a kind of test period to become part of the work team. If you behave too annoying they tend to decide to force you to leave work.

 

Religions too has these kind of tests of loyalty to stand the pain or else lose the gain of being member .

One explanation is to ward of cheaters. The pain should be so intense that cheaters prefer to not even try.

What is your view on this?