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 ?
(Score: 5, Insightful) by ilsa on Thursday November 09 2017, @10:58PM (1 child)
Correction. Most people believe in some kind of *spirituality*. In other words, they feel a sense of connection with the environment around them, people, the universe, what have you.
IMO Religion is a method of brainwashing people into doing whatever the controllers of that particular religion want. Sometimes religion abuses that sense of spirituality to give itself additional legitimacy, but not necessarily.
(Score: 1) by pdfernhout on Friday November 10 2017, @03:13AM
For a more nuanced view of cost/benefit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolutionary_origin_of_religions [wikipedia.org]
The biggest challenge of the 21st century: the irony of technologies of abundance used by scarcity-minded people.