The problem is that the only mechanism to keep that devotion to "good" that's worked so far has been devotion to a higher power(that's explicitly not interested in political power).
That is mostly an assumption. Even societies without a higher power have a working morality. Eve animals seem to have basic morals. orals likely come before belief in a higher power.
yeah... interesting to see what happens in more atheistic countries (EU). Eastern countries (eg Japan?) dont always have a god. but do have collectivist/in group leanings.
Idiot "economists" who try to use Japan as an example of how to do things IGNORE the fact that it's a mono-ethnic state with it's border completely surrounded by a big beautiful wall.
if your hypothesis about religion is true, then cultures with less religion should be less cohesive/trusting/successful. idk if Japan is a good example, just what came to mind.
Also, currently in Shinto religion the gods are higher than the emperor. That was the huge gift that WWII gave them. Losing that war proved that no human is above the gods.
Basically you need to have a reason to TRUST your neighbor for capitalism to work. In Japan that reason is ethnic. In America it's JESUS.
haven't dug into it, but found quickly
I do not think people are honest because they are christian. They’re honest because they have a reputation irl or online. Ebay ex, sellers must to have reputations near 100%.
Yeah, Japan has a strong social contract, probably due to their public school system(which are basically military schools) and a thousand years history of rice farming.
