> > Paul's intention in creating the scale was to challenge the idea that religion is universal and innate to the human condition, and to show that societies th

> > Paul's intention in creating the scale was to challenge the idea that religion is universal and innate to the human condition, and to show that societies that don't believe in God are not doomed, as some religious conservatives would have people believe. > Always an excellent idea to start off a study with an attempt to prove a preconceived point. That's highly disingenuous. The intention as stated was to disprove a preconceived point -- viz 'societies that don't believe in God are doomed'.