order arrive. In chimpanzees, a subordinate may crouch, hold out a hand, or squeak. Humans show submission through both words and behaviors, and these signals are so pervasive that actors are trained to incorporate hierarchy signals into every conversation. This is because acting and improvisation tend to fall flat unless social hierarchy is established among the characters. 26
As social information specialists, we depend on each other, but we also compete with each other, and to minimize how much energy we spend competing, we establish hierarchies. Our desire to get as good a position as we can in the hierarchy makes us emotionally insecure. We are unsure of where we stand. Signals that other people will submit to us are reassuring. Pleasing. 27 Most people find it uncomfortable to be told that “Islam” means “submission.” The images of forced submission can be a little too graphic. And yet the reality is that dominance and submission are an integral part of human relations and of religions with personal gods.
Even though humans are creative communicators, some of our religious behaviors may have specific biological roots. Consider for example the act of bowing one's head in prayer. It probably is traceable to ancient postures that allowed commoners to approach royalty. The word grovel today means to show exaggerated deference or contrition in order to appease someone. But its medieval root appears related to the word prone and may have to do with the physical posture required to approach the king. A parallel word, kowtow means to behave with extreme submissiveness to please an authority figure. But it derives from the traditional Chinese practice of bowing so low that your head touches the ground. But these behaviors in turn may derive from something far more ancient. In other primates, a bow communicates submission to an animal of higher status. It can be a means of avoiding a fight when tensions are high. 28
In this world, if we understand our place, if we engage in submissive behaviors, then high-status people let us hang around, and we ourselves gain status from the proximity. I recently was invited to an investment club meeting at the home of a powerful woman. Because I was working on this article, I couldn't help but notice the actions of the guests (who were mostly less wealthy and less social). They expressed gratitude for the (exclusive) invitation. Praise for the catering was effusive, and for the garden. The words of the hostess got extra nodding. We all felt lucky to be a part of her circle.
Christians gain status, at least in each others’ eyes and in their own minds, because of proximity to God. I am not suggesting that Christians are particularly arrogant, because I don't believe that to be true. I think simply that all of us are wired to orient ourselves according to hierarchical assumptions-they are inescapable—and to seek advantage within the hierarchy. I think also that these hierarchical relationships are mediated by emotions, and that we instinctively expect them in any being with a humanoid psyche. Since the Christian Bible describes a personal god who relates to humans, it is inevitable that believers respond to these contingencies.
If the world were different, biblical Christianity might center on release from desire or ethical study or acts of compassion as in some forms of Buddhism. 29 It might focus on ahimsa or nonviolence like Jainism. 30 But that, I think, would take a different Bible. Like the God of Islam, the God of the Bible is interested primarily in worship. That is what the sacred texts tell us, and believers respond. As a consequence, intellectual assent accompanied by submission behaviors and displays of devotion are core to both religions. The way that believers interact with God, both in the Bible and in modern life, tells us who they think they are talking to. Unfortunately our god concepts fall victim to what we know about big-cheese humans. This not only means that
As social information specialists, we depend on each other, but we also compete with each other, and to minimize how much energy we spend competing, we establish hierarchies. Our desire to get as good a position as we can in the hierarchy makes us emotionally insecure. We are unsure of where we stand. Signals that other people will submit to us are reassuring. Pleasing. 27 Most people find it uncomfortable to be told that “Islam” means “submission.” The images of forced submission can be a little too graphic. And yet the reality is that dominance and submission are an integral part of human relations and of religions with personal gods.
Even though humans are creative communicators, some of our religious behaviors may have specific biological roots. Consider for example the act of bowing one's head in prayer. It probably is traceable to ancient postures that allowed commoners to approach royalty. The word grovel today means to show exaggerated deference or contrition in order to appease someone. But its medieval root appears related to the word prone and may have to do with the physical posture required to approach the king. A parallel word, kowtow means to behave with extreme submissiveness to please an authority figure. But it derives from the traditional Chinese practice of bowing so low that your head touches the ground. But these behaviors in turn may derive from something far more ancient. In other primates, a bow communicates submission to an animal of higher status. It can be a means of avoiding a fight when tensions are high. 28
In this world, if we understand our place, if we engage in submissive behaviors, then high-status people let us hang around, and we ourselves gain status from the proximity. I recently was invited to an investment club meeting at the home of a powerful woman. Because I was working on this article, I couldn't help but notice the actions of the guests (who were mostly less wealthy and less social). They expressed gratitude for the (exclusive) invitation. Praise for the catering was effusive, and for the garden. The words of the hostess got extra nodding. We all felt lucky to be a part of her circle.
Christians gain status, at least in each others’ eyes and in their own minds, because of proximity to God. I am not suggesting that Christians are particularly arrogant, because I don't believe that to be true. I think simply that all of us are wired to orient ourselves according to hierarchical assumptions-they are inescapable—and to seek advantage within the hierarchy. I think also that these hierarchical relationships are mediated by emotions, and that we instinctively expect them in any being with a humanoid psyche. Since the Christian Bible describes a personal god who relates to humans, it is inevitable that believers respond to these contingencies.
If the world were different, biblical Christianity might center on release from desire or ethical study or acts of compassion as in some forms of Buddhism. 29 It might focus on ahimsa or nonviolence like Jainism. 30 But that, I think, would take a different Bible. Like the God of Islam, the God of the Bible is interested primarily in worship. That is what the sacred texts tell us, and believers respond. As a consequence, intellectual assent accompanied by submission behaviors and displays of devotion are core to both religions. The way that believers interact with God, both in the Bible and in modern life, tells us who they think they are talking to. Unfortunately our god concepts fall victim to what we know about big-cheese humans. This not only means that
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