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posted by martyb on Thursday November 09 2017, @06:23PM   Printer-friendly
from the "number-of-the-beast"-is-natural,-whole,-rational,-real,-AND-imaginary dept.

Religious beliefs are not linked to intuition or rational thinking, according to new research by the universities of Coventry and Oxford. Previous studies have suggested people who hold strong religious beliefs are more intuitive and less analytical, and when they think more analytically their religious beliefs decrease.

But new research, by academics from Coventry University's Centre for Advances in Behavioural Science and neuroscientists and philosophers at Oxford University, suggests that is not the case, and that people are not 'born believers'. The study -- which included tests on pilgrims taking part in the famous Camino de Santiago and a brain stimulation experiment -- found no link between intuitive/analytical thinking, or cognitive inhibition (an ability to suppress unwanted thoughts and actions), and supernatural beliefs.

Instead, the academics conclude that other factors, such as upbringing and socio-cultural processes, are more likely to play a greater role in religious beliefs.

[Abstract]: Supernatural Belief Is Not Modulated by Intuitive Thinking Style or Cognitive Inhibition

Would you agree with this conclusion or do you believe that there is something else that influences people's religious beliefs ?


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  • (Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 09 2017, @06:58PM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 09 2017, @06:58PM (#594765)

    For some, it's because God has revealed himself to that person in some way and He becomes very real to that person.

    Romans 10:17 - Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
    and
    Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

    If you look at it from a "worldly" scientific view, you'll never understand. You can't pin down what can't be explained by numbers - He made those numbers and everything else you see can can't see. Like it or not God is real, and denying Him just to try and alleviate any of your ownership of your sins will not work.

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  • (Score: 3, Informative) by PartTimeZombie on Friday November 10 2017, @01:40AM

    by PartTimeZombie (4827) on Friday November 10 2017, @01:40AM (#594975)

    I don't like the fact that this comment has been modded to -1 Troll, even though it is poorly argued. -1 Disagree might be better.

    If you look at it from a "worldly" scientific view...

    That's how we explain everything, since the enlightenment. Putting worldly in quote marks doesn't change anything here.

    That leaves God (any god) as a "god of the gaps" [wikipedia.org] and the problem there is that as the gaps get smaller, so does the god.

    Also, quoting the Bible to make your point about god is circular.