Is belief in a higher power or going somewhere after death part of human nature?

Question

My mom and I had a huge debate about this, and I do not believe it is human nature.

Meaning that all humans naturally think about this, but some who dont believe it were just influenced by an outside source to think the way they do. However, if nobody was influenced, educated, or even told about this; would EVERYONE (HUMAN nature) still think this

Answer 1

No, it's not any more. Uncertainty about what lies beyond might be, as would be questioning or pondering. But, not everyone believes in a higher power. All I know is that we all die and that our bodies rot away or are burned; beyond that, nothing is 100% certain.

Answer 2

I don't think that it is necessarily human nature since not all humans share it (atheists do not). Faith is something you either have or you don't. The reason that so many of us share the belief is because it is true! There is a higher power. Whatever we may choose to call Him (I call Him God) there was a Creator. The beauty of this planet is argument enough for Intelligent Design (as opposed to Evolution or Big Bang randomness...)

(Incidentally Kat, speaking of intelligence, unrelated to this question, you commented on my answer to another question... You were incredulous about my being called "overqualified." I was too but that's a direct quote! Mind you it was for a receptionist's position but I needed a job, anywhere! I suppose if they were being honest they wouldn't have said overqualified but unqualified since my Humanities degree wasn't required or relevant to the work. Many of the employers that interviewed me following graduation actually seemed to hold my degree & awards against me. They were right though. I wouldn't have been "challenged" at any of those McJobs. They were just temporary to earn money to live in the interim until I could find something more rewarding where I could use my brain...Now I get to use my brain & I earn good money but I hate my job. I'd rather be doing something creative but I'm too practical to be a starving artist! Sorry to interject with this Kat!)
:)
amp

Answer 3

Human beings have a three-part nature -- physical, psychological and spiritual. So it is the "spiritual" element of human nature that seeks mature understanding and awareness about life and death, and all aspects of human experience.

It has been shown that belief in "God" is connected with a part of the brain that expresses this tendency as a dominant trait. So even if you believe in "survival of the fittest" and evolution, pure science also points to faith in a higher power as a dominant mechanism that ensures greater chances of human survival.

Answer 4

Yes I believe it is innate in man to believe that God exists. It is natural for the soul of man to reach out to his Creator. It is atheism that has to be learned because it is not a natural state. Even people groups who were isolated from all other societies (therefore no outside influence) believe there is a God. I agree with your mother - it is definitely part of human nature to not only believe in God but to desire to be with Him when this life ends.

Answer 5

The human mind is formed of two basic internal forces and the substance of sensory perception. 1) the Judgment, it is negative, and 2) the Will, it is positive. The negation for a possibility needs certain knowledge, and certainty is only possible with the conception of principle for natural description. Not knowing why something is impossible precedes the condition for a belief but knowing why something or an action for something IS possible does not entail the necessity for the concept for principle; in the absence of principle contingent conditions form the basis for Notion, and Notion for Belief, and Belief for Notion. It is the nature of human Will to become positive but with a poorly formed Judgment anything is possible.

Answer 6

To answer this question, I must first ask how you are defining "human nature"...what does it mean to be human?
To me, being human is being self-aware, that is, being aware that we are humans(as opposed to fish, dogs, rocks, etc that do not know that they are these things, they simply are).
To be human is to be aware of one's existence.
That premise established, if you are aware of your existence as a person, and humans are intelligent, sentient life forms, then it is human nature to ask questions about how they have come into existence, what their lives mean, what death is, what happens after death, and so forth.
Ancient mythologies are one example of humans attempting to explain or answer an unanswerable question: what happens when we die?
Entire societies and cultures have existed for many millenia built around these mythological explanations.
They are a part of our lives, and shape our world.
Therefore, yes, I do believe that belief in a higher power or going somewhere after death is a part of human nature.
So is choosing not to believe in a higher power.
It is human nature to question, and human nature to make choices.

Answer 7

I think it is. I was not in a church going family, didn't know crap about religion, and I can remember feeling this "void" inside me. It's a really hard feeling to explain, so I won't even attempt to, but I feel like everyone has it. I think some people use drugs to try and fill this void, I did, but it never goes away. Others use money or chasing excitement to fill it. Luckily for me, I no longer have that void. I feel like I can look into peoples souls now on a deeper level since I became a Christian in my late 20's after a friend shared God with me. I have never felt that void since. I think people who are raised in Christian homes take what they have for granted.

Answer 8

Most people do believe in a higher power while some people believe in science. believe it or not we are are made out of star stuff. for me i believe theres some things that cant be explained, but I truly dont know if there is really a higher power.

Answer 9

It's within the scope of the human ability and mind.
Which means humans are able to think this thought but not necesarily will.

Answer 10

No. The very fact that I am Alive and working with my students is proof enough that you are naturally taught everything. Tell your mom to email me and I will show her 120 men and woman who all follow me ( a 20 year old Anti-scientist) I have taught them how to hold fire, how to call spirits and much more. We have no fear of death, no fear of a cheap christian god. The god of the christian bible is as small as the book he is trapped in. Matter of fact, don't argue with mom, come follow me.