
Why do we believe in gods? Religious belief ‘not linked to intuition or rational thinking’
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.
The study — published in Scientific Reports — was the first to challenge a growing trend among cognitive psychologists over the past 20 years that has attempted to show that believing in the supernatural is something that comes to us ‘naturally’ or intuitively.
The team started by carrying out an investigation on one of the largest pilgrimage routes in the world — the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, in northern Spain.
They asked pilgrims about the strength of their beliefs and the length of time spent on the pilgrimage and assessed their levels of intuitive thinking with a probability task, where participants had to decide between a logical and a ‘gut feeling’ choice.
The results suggested no link between strength of supernatural belief and intuition.
In a second study, where they used mathematical puzzles to increase intuition, they also found no link between levels of intuitive thinking and supernatural belief.
In the last part of their research they used brain stimulation to increase levels of cognitive inhibition, which is thought to regulate analytical thinking.
This involved running a painless electrical current between two electrodes placed on the participant’s scalp, to activate the right inferior frontal gyrus, a part of the brain that controls inhibitory control.
A previous brain-imaging study had shown that atheists used this area of the brain more when they wanted to suppress supernatural ideas.
The results showed that while this brain stimulation increased levels of cognitive inhibition, it did not change levels of supernatural belief, suggesting there is no direct link between cognitive inhibition and supernatural belief.
The academics say that it is “premature” to explain belief in gods as intuitive or natural.
Instead, they say their research supports a theory that religion is a nurture-based process and develops because of socio-cultural processes, including upbringing and education.
Leading author Miguel Farias said:
“What drives our belief in gods — intuition or reason; heart or head? There has been a long debate on this matter but our studies have challenged the theory that being a religious believer is determined by how much individuals rely on intuitive or analytical thinking.
“We don’t think people are ‘born believers’ in the same way we inevitably learn a language at an early age. The available sociological and historical data show that what we believe in is mainly based on social and educational factors, and not on cognitive styles, such as intuitive/analytical thinking.
“Religious belief is most likely rooted in culture rather than in some primitive gut intuition.”
Edited by Ariasun editorial board
Source
for ariasun products online shopping ,click here.
https://www.instagram.com/ariasunintlgroup
website ariasuniweb net ariasuniportal ariasuni Health Journal Family physician Medical Health Ariasan Elcomp </ em> Elcomp Exhibition </ em> Online Elcomp Therapy Health Electronics Tourism Aryans City Net Soocom Ariasun Soopak Ariasun medipharma Advertisement Reader The requirements Employment Currency Exchange Currency Coin Gold < em> car property land building stock exchange bank Government People Leader Assembly Quran Book Student University Knowledge base Exercise Sima Sound Religion < / em> Life People Hope Work Dread Unemployment youth exercise information technology computer < / em> Hardware Software Computer Server Virtual Tablet < / em> Mobile Zanjan Tehran Iran Germany Greece Georgia Georgia Dubai World Air Space < em> Country Product Finder AriaSun International Group Online Store WikiPharma AriaSun Production Industrial Operations Equip Installation & Investment Air Space International Trading Research Industrial Business Medical Dummy Undoubtedly Health Drug Therapy Health Information Technology & Computer Airlines Tourism Logo Design Sticker Design Advertising Campaign Science & Research News </em > Political News Economic Trade International Stock Market News Medical Tourism & Cultural Heritage Aeronautics & Tourism Sport & Olympic Domain and University The Quran Arts & Culture Industry & Technology Accidents Ladies Currency and Gold Coins Flats Rip’s Web Site Kandasheh Ahwaz Web Site Foot Website Abuse Clean Sean Cinere Live Nature Whats Punababy Mussels Clinic Radarians Man AriaSun Preddies Reservations < Em> Tourists Unemployment youth exercise CityNet PakSaman SooComAriaSun SooPakAriaSun MediPharma AriaSun Kalayab AriaSunBazar AriaSunBazar Medeca MediKala Artists Group AriaSunGroup Web site designing RP Pilgrimage website Historical tours website Web Resident Resorts site Tours website The Pana The Natural Tours Website Kandesheh Ahwaz The Scientific Tour Website Oil & Refineries The Sports Tour Website Gas The Web Tours Water Exposure Tour Site Travel Tour Website Travel Tours The Last-minute Tours Site Tours of the last minute Web-site of the local tours Recreation site Internal tours site Pilgrimage Fun Places Design Web Design City Net Designing a Holiday Resort Pilgrimage Pilgrimage Website designing pilgrimage City Net Pilgrimage Travel </em > Designing Travel Planner Website Designing Travel Places Historic Places Designing Historic Places Historic Places Design Residences Residential Residential Design Residential Residential Design Cultural Places Designing a Web Site for Cultural Places Designing Cultural Places Natural Places Natural Places Designing a natural site Designing a natural website scientific Designing for scientific Designing for scientific sports sports designing sports < Em> Sports Facilities Design Sports Facilities Sport Sport Designing a Sports Center for Extreme Sports Creating places Designing for Exhibition Exhibit places Designing Exhibit Places Designing Exposure Website Web Recreation Recreation Web Design Recreational tours The design of the tourist resorts Pilgrimage Pilgrimage Pilgrimage Pilgrimage Pilgrimage Tours Historic Tours Tour Design Historic Tours Web Tour Design Historical Tours Residential Tours Resorts Tour Design Residential Tour Website Design Cultural Design Cultural Tour Site Cultural Tour Website Natural Designing Natural Tours Designing Natural Tours Web Site Science Designing Scientific Tours Designing Sci-Fi Web Site Designing a Sports Tour Designing a Sports Tour Website Designing a Tours Tour Designing a Touring Web Site Exhibit Exhibit Tour Travel Designing Tours Tour The Last Moment Toure The Last Moment Designing the Last Minute Tours Internal Tours Designing Local Tours Designing a Web Site Tour </em > Foreign Tours Designing a Tours Site Designing a Website for Tours Coastal Work < em> Designing the Coast Guided Tour Urban Designing Urban Tours Urban Touring Sights < Em> Sightseeing Design Sightseeing Web Site Mountaineering Sailing Designing Sailing Tours < Em> Website Designing Sailing Tours Aviation Designing Tours Cruising Cruising ships Creating cruise ship cruises Creating Cruise Cruises Inbound Flights Designing Inbound Flights Foreign Flights Designing a Foreign Airmail Web site Last Minute Flights Web Design Last Minute Deals cheap Website Design Cheap Flights Online Shopping Online Sales Online Selling Website Design Online Shopping Online Store Online Store Design Online Tickets Design an Online Ticket Internet Designing a Web Store Internet Tickets Designing an Internet Ticket > parscoders






  324 Visit

Search
Commercial
Public Relations
Finance & Administration
Soopak Ariasun ( IT )
Sookam Ariasun ( Medical and Veterinary )
Aerospace ( Pad Ariasun )
Manufacture and production ( Rad Ariasun )
Airline and Tourism ( Man Ariasun )
International Commerce ( Mad Ariasun )
Research Center Ariasun ( R&D&C )
Cultural,Satellite and Digital
AriaSun International Group
Submit Your Comment
?Want to join the discussion!Feel free to contribute