If belief in God/Godess/Supernatural learned or innate?

Question

I always thought (when I thought about it at all) that belief in the supernatural was normal for a child (and for adults, for that matter).

However, I've seen a lot of atheists saying that people are "born atheist". Maybe it's a joke, maybe they're serious, but I do know that my atheist boyfriend was an atheist from an early age (as far back as he has memory) even though his family was Catholic and did their best to convert him along with the other kids. (It just didn't "take" with him for some reason.)

Any thoughts? Is belief in a supernatural force innate to children or must it be taught to them by adults?

Answer 1

Good question. I know that kids are naturals at 'magic thinking'. That could just be a fancy way to say imagination, but how do you define imagination. Children, as beings dependant on another, might have a natural instinct to thinking about a power greater than themselves that can be petitioned for assistance. This is just speculation though. Good question.

Answer 2

The statement being born an Atheist is simply a way of saying no one is born believing in god they are indoctrinated Yes it is a learned behavior Did you believe in heaven & hell when you were born or did some *** hole scare you into believing?

Answer 3

i think of humorousness develops interior a similar way as the different character trait; it rather is, it rather is a made of our genes, our atmosphere, and our reviews. that is humorous which you reported your doggy, via fact my doggy is the funniest subject i've got ever are available in the process. each so often she's so ridiculous, i think of to myself, "She had to have time-commemorated what she became doing only then!" yet i understand realistically she's basically a organic goofball. i'm not sure off of what you should even base your assumption that individuals are not getting irony. u . s . a .'s a reasonably large and different place, you understand? i might say that generalization has as lots advantage via fact the yankee assumption that Brits have atrocious oral hygiene. So take that as you will.

Answer 4

I learned about God throught force, but understood him through self knowledge and independent understanding

Answer 5

I think we all start as a blank slate and our personal experiences and perceptions, as well as our environment are all factors in what we end up believing.