Research from psychologists and anthropologists at Yale, Oxford, Northwestern, and other universities suggests that humans are naturally inclined to believe in gods and develop religions.

According to an article in New Scientist, humans have a tendency to develop ideas of gods – just as children have a natural capacity to think up imaginary friends, or just as adults intuitively imagine conversations with the supernatural or with others who aren’t physically present. The idea is, when you’re a baby, you notice that things like trees can’t decide when and how to behave. Yet people can make their own choices and move about as they so choose. Therefore, some objects have minds and some objects don’t. If this is true, then where does this mind come from? And can it interact with possible unseen objects like ghosts, spirits, and gods?

Left on their own, researchers told New Scientist that children would raise these questions and would conclude there is an existence of supernatural minds, thereby forming their own religious beliefs naturally.

Adults take the extra step of forming a religion around the belief in a god or gods. The basis, according to researchers, is cause and effect. If the leaves blow, there must be wind. If my heart is moved, it must be God.

The need to keep this belief is greater when times are hard. When we feel out of control, we get superstitious or wonder what outside force could be causing – or helping – our case.

It’s important to note that just because we form our ideas about God doesn’t mean God doesn’t exist. It just means it’s easiest for our brains to think about the existence of a god or gods than to work to disprove it.

Learn the psychology behind the idea on the New Scientist Web site.

Copyright 2009, Religion Transcends. 

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