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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 ?
(Score: 3, Insightful) by inertnet on Friday November 10 2017, @02:22AM
Humans have a very strong desire to explain their world. We dislike the unknown and will come up with an explanation for anything, even if it's wrong. I think religion started as attempts to explain things like earthquakes, storms and volcano's. In the eyes of early humans those things must have been caused by powerful beings, for lack of a better explanation. But also more ordinary things like stillbirths, someone would be held responsible for those. In most cultures witches are still held responsible for those kinds of mischief.
Ultimately we just hate being unable to explain things. Which is a good thing because next to religion, science is also a byproduct of that trait.