Behalf Quote by Jared Diamond
“Besides justifying the transfer of wealth to kleptocrats, institutionalized religion brings two other important benefits to centralized societies. First, shared ideology or religion helps solve the problem of how unrelated individuals are to live together without killing each other—by providing them with a bond not based on kinship. Second, it gives people a motive, other than genetic self-interest, for sacrificing their lives on behalf of others.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Guns, Germs, and Steel, 1997
Religion unifies strangers, providing shared values and altruistic motives beyond self‑interest.
In simple terms: Religion creates social bonds and altruism.
Key Takeaway
Leverage shared values for cooperation.
Themes
social cohesion
altruism
ideology
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
sociological
philosophical
When to use this quote
- Community building
- conflict resolution
- public policy
- charitable initiatives
Key Concepts
Collective identity
moral motivation
Questions to Reflect On
- Can secular systems replicate these benefits?
- What risks arise from shared ideology?
A Different Perspective
Religion can also justify oppression.
![“In his condemnation [Karl] Marx referred to institutionalized religion,that has precisely the function of anesthetizing men till they do not notice the in- justice of which they are the perpetrators and the victims.” quote by Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c65/erich-fromm-367_condemnation_in-his-condemnation-karl-marx-referred-t_1049504.jpg)
![“I couldn't ever act or think on behalf of what my father [[Albert Camus]] would have said or done. He's an artist, he considers himself an artist, and so he takes on the responsibility of speaking for those who are not given the means or the opportunity.” quote by Catherine Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/872/catherine-camus-12238_art_i-couldn-t-ever-act-or-think-on-behalf-o_48718.jpg)
