Category Archives: Ch.6) Power/Size

With size comes power. Although this is true for ocean waves, I am here referring to animals. With animal size comes greater mass, muscles, inertia, reach, leverage. As a rule, individuals are intimidated by beings larger than themselves. The cliché … Continue reading →

Reconciliations among males are often preceded by a confirmation of formal status. For example, the dominant stands upright with his hair erect and in one mighty gesture passes a raised arm over his ducking partner before they proceed to kissing … Continue reading →

How do the devout show commitment to their god? They frequently do it through acts of humility and service to others. (35) They demonstrate that they know they are not above. For there is only One above. More specifically, there … Continue reading →

Most of us, in ways that we are not entirely aware of, automatically associate leadership ability with imposing physical stature. – Malcolm Gladwell (1) What is a god but a leader of people: a judge, a master, a lord, a … Continue reading →

Resorting to deep-bellied sounds is almost universal across human cultures in situations where we want to create a lasting impression. – Robin Dunbar (7) Do you have an arm like God’s, and can your voice thunder like his? (Job 40:9) … Continue reading →

In religious veneration the image of the tree still looms large; it grows to cosmic dimensions in myths about the ‘world tree.’ But it can be outdone by the mountain which no doubt is more exalted, and the mountain in … Continue reading →

Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. (Psalms 150:1) Power and wealth often go together. A person, state or religion may advertise their power with their property, building projects and possessions. The message: … Continue reading →

The minimum act of submission is to bow one’s head while taking off one’s hat, which is still widely used and taken for granted as a gesture of politeness. – Walter Burkert (17) A number of academics and scientists have … Continue reading →

The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread. (Isaiah 8:13) His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation … Continue reading →

You mould the earth to your wish, you and you alone. From Stephen Quirke’s, The Cult of Ra: Sun-Worship in Ancient Egypt (26) God is mighty. Which god? The Egyptian Ra was mighty. The Greek Zeus was mighty. The Roman … Continue reading →

Your arm is endued with power; your hand is strong, your right hand exalted. (Psalms 89:13) A couple years ago I attended a lecture on the “neurobehavioral asymmetry in chimpanzees.” As we are discovering, other primates show a preference for … Continue reading →