Encouraging and "selective adherence" to doctrine to filter out destructive elements.
Garcia argues that humans have projected the traits of a high-ranking onto the concept of God. This "Alpha God" mirrors the behaviors of dominant males in chimpanzee or other primate societies, focusing on:
You can find more detailed reviews and summaries of Garcia's work on The Humanist or through scholarly reviews on ResearchGate . Alpha God : the psychology of religious violenc...
Demanding ritualistic displays of submission (like prayer or sacrifice) and using lethal aggression to punish "wrongdoers" or out-groups.
Monitoring human sexual behavior and imposing patriarchal structures. Encouraging and "selective adherence" to doctrine to filter
To move beyond these "primate motivations," Garcia suggests social and educational reforms, such as: Strengthening the .
Promoting altruism within the tribe while encouraging extreme hostility toward outsiders. Key Themes & Evidence Demanding ritualistic displays of submission (like prayer or
Justifying wars and conquests to secure land.