This study ignores the influence of Christianity.
Belief in Christianity eliminates the fear of curses from shamans. Belief in a rational God allows one to believe that rational earthly behavior will have rational outcomes. The invisible monsters lurking behind every tree today are not going to steal his hope in tomorrow.
Christianity also fosters a culture of honesty. Once a person can trust his neighbor to be honest, he no longer needs as much reliance on his clan or tribe. He can reach out to outlying communities. He can make contracts that he trusts will be upheld by his neighbor and honest judges.
So without the Church, there could never have been a Galileo right? Heathens like Aristotle weren’t able to form rational thoughts for fear of boogeymen?
Excellent point. The Anglo Saxon concept of property rights and rule of law grew out of Judeo-Christian beliefs. It's no accident that the most advanced countries have a Judeo Christian tradition, even if they've abandoned it in the last 100 years.
Add “Jedaeo” to Christianity and You have a or the major component of rapid progress.All of these characteristics came straight out of Hebrew monotheism. One major component is the early and continuous Hebrew strictures on sex.