Although atheists claim that babies are born without a knowledge of God, the fact that no matter where they are, humans have always believed in a supernatural force behind their existence, must somehow mean that it's something hardwired in our genetic or evolutionary makeup, no?
Like some sort of instinct, something you inherently know but need to develop and expand as you grow...
2007-07-26 01:43:09 · 13 answers · asked by Jmyooooh 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Go read "The God Delusion", by Richard Dawkins -- he offers several theories as to how religious belief may simply be an unintended side effect of a useful trait developed by evolution.
For example: a "believe what your elders tell you without question" gene is a handy way of teaching the kids in your tribe not to leave the cave after dark, or which berries are dangerous to eat, and so on; but it also makes them particularly vulnerable to superstitions and bad ideas that get passed on along with the good.
2007-07-26 01:49:34 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
There is no definitive answer. Some people have suggested that maybe the belief in a religion or a deity helped us develop socially and thus was beneficial and selected. There have been societies not based on a deity though. Buddhism has no inherent deity and neither does Taoism.
2007-07-26 01:49:22 · answer #2 · answered by Zen Pirate 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Superstitions serve a purpose. They relieve anxiety. If you lived in an age where no one knows why people get sick, you might think it was evil spirits or something. To reassure yourself that you can do something about it, you pray to a god for healing. If that person got well, you would think the god had granted your request.
Even now, when we know that disease is caused by microbes, people will take a sick person to the hospital, and when everything can be done for them from a medical standpoint, there's still a risk they could die. So people still pray.
2007-07-26 01:53:01 · answer #3 · answered by Robin W 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Humans have always believed in a supernatural force because they fear the truth. And no, this knowledge of god is not something that's inherent. It is because of your bringing up that people believe in god. Try asking a child who's grown up in a family of atheists if he/she believes in god.
2007-07-26 01:48:53 · answer #4 · answered by T Delfino 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Its much more likely that it is an undesireable side effect of other otherwise advantageous traits - such as social behaviours and rapid decision making skills (often termed instincts).
It is very unlikely that it evolved in its own right as it is, by and large, very disadvantageous in evolutionary terms.
2007-07-26 01:51:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, perhaps humans have a need to explain the unexplainable. That does not mean that the explanations are correct.
2007-07-26 01:47:37 · answer #6 · answered by Kathryn™ 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have never had this instinct you propose, nor have I ever believed in this "supernatural force".
2007-07-26 01:47:31 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
not really. it's just that people need a way to explain the things they don't understand and this is where the notion of god comes into play.
2007-07-26 01:47:25 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
It's not that compicated. Rain, lightning, thunder, suggest something that seems to have control over us, so we decide to call it God etc. and try to appease it so it will leave us alone.
2007-07-26 01:51:07 · answer #9 · answered by JiveMan 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
God is our Creator and our Creator put something in us to know Him. That is why God says we are without excuse not to believe in Him. God says, "Be still and know that I Am God."
2007-07-26 01:50:25 · answer #10 · answered by Jeancommunicates 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋