Ancestor veneration supplies the social capital nations are built upon.

Evidence

As Renan also has observed: “Of all cults, that of the ancestors is the most legitimate, for the ancestors have made us what we are. A heroic past, great men, glory, … this is the social capital upon which one bases a national idea” (Renan 1996: 52). The Vijaya myth provides much of that, as do other myths and dubious historical episodes that have helped foster a modern Sinhalese Buddhist identity antithetical to the tolerance espoused by Buddhism. — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist Ideology, 74

Categorization

• XREF: Doctrinal tolerance coexisting with intolerance matches the reader’s professed-conviction-divergence research question; also bridges to Coleman-family social capital. — connects to: Ancestor veneration stems from participation in the vital force of the founders — Frans Dokman, Beyond Bantu Philosophy_…, 330; Scandinavian ancestry predicts a state’s current social capital. — Robert D. Putnam, Bowling Alone The Collapse and Revival…, 1027; Belief in vengeful ancestral spirits sustained a society’s institutionalized warfare (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• Scandinavian ancestry predicts a state’s current social capital. #corroborates (0.88) — Robert D. Putnam, Bowling Alone The Collapse and Revival…, 1027
• Ancestor veneration stems from participation in the vital force of the founders #expands (0.82) — Frans Dokman, Beyond Bantu Philosophy_…, 330
• Loyalty to small cultural groups strengthens attachment to the larger civilization #corroborates (0.78)
• Belief in vengeful ancestral spirits sustained a society’s institutionalized warfare #qualifies (0.72)