A model of religion and death

What is it about?

This paper utilizes the Afterlife Capital framework to provide explanations of several empirical findings on religion. The main one is the inverted U-shaped relationship between religiosity and the fear of death. Basically it models people who, during life, invest in a good afterlife. Those who place a high probability on an afterlife existing, make large investments and expect to end up in heaven. Those who place a low probability on an afterlife existing, make low investments but are not worried as they place a low probability on hell existing. It is those who place intermediate level probabilities on an afterlife that have the most to fear. They rationally make low investments in an afterlife but this also means that if one exists they, they are more likely to end up in hell.

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Why is it important?

Even today, religious beliefs are widespread and have a major impact on behaviour. Understanding its effects is undeniably important.

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