God functions as an attachment figure who soothes and threatens simultaneously

Evidence

This is why evolutionary psychologist Lee Kirkpatrick sees gods and spirits as attachment figures providing safety and comfort in times of distress. And just as our parents and significant others can be both the cause and the solution to our anxieties, God’s love can be comforting, but God’s wrath can be anxiety provoking. Fear of sinning is a major religious preoccupation. Religions are populated with scary creatures who torment souls. This raises an interesting puzzle—how to explain the wide-ranging evidence (discussed earlier) that in the face of existential threats, people embrace religion, and not only the feel-good parts? It could be that a disturbing but predictable world is still more comforting than a chaotic, senseless one. Moreover, not all religions are equally good at soothing these anxieties. It is likely that religions that succeed, all else being equal, offer even greater succor in the face of these, as well as other, graver threats. This brings us back full circle to the delicate balancing act between supernatural punishment, which makes people be nice to each other, and supernatural benevolence, which helps people cope with their deepest anxieties. Once again, true to its paradoxical effects, religion is both the arsonist and the fire department. — Norenzayan, Ara, Big gods - how religion transformed…, 619

Categorization

• QUESTION: The ‘paradox’ framing — why do people facing threats embrace frightening religion, not just comforting parts — is worth later examination relative to how paternalistic manipulative religions handle the balance.
• XREF: The benevolent-punitive balance directly parallels the reader’s Big God enforcement vs. partner-choice analysis and the sacrificial-solidarity dynamics.