Is the belief in God - or something greater than yourself - a basic human need?

Answer 1

The official answer is no. A million thumbs down will not change this, as a belief in God does not fit the definition of a "basic need".

Basic human needs are defined as something one needs to continue living.

As in: Food, water, sleep, shelter. There are of course other needs but these are beyond basic, and not REQUIRED for survival, like human interaction and all the stuff that keeps you from going mad. Maybe you could fit belief in God in this bracket, but for others a lack of belief on God may keep them sane. Proof of this is in the fact that atheists exist.

Answer 2

The following means science seems to find a neurological part of the brain that is stimulated when confronted/experiences the following
Neurotheology hypothesizes that the basis of spiritual experiences arises in neurological physology and attempts to explain these neurological basis for those experiences, such as:

* The perception that time, fear or self-consciousness have dissolved
* Spiritual awe
* Oneness with the universe
* Ecstatic trance
* Sudden enlightenment
* Altered states of consciousness
* Increase of N, N-Dimethyltryptamine levels in the pineal gland or epiphysis.

These experiences are seen as the basis for many religious beliefs and behaviors.

Either way religion for some people serves as an enlightment and a sense of assurance/comfort given to them

Answer 3

I think the belief in a higher purpose, which goes beyond self promotion and self enjoyment, is a driving compulsion intrinsic to all humanity. As an atheist, however, I don’t believe that God necessarily has to be that higher purpose. God has become a shortcut, or lazy answer, to this fundamental human need to find greater meaning in life, because to truly grapple with that issue requires a lot of diligence, and is sometimes a lifelong pursuit, and most are not willing to come to terms with the gravity of that pursuit. After many years of deliberation I have come to the conclusion that filling the void in one’s life, for greater significance, with a simple devotion to a fictional character like Yahweh or Allah, is just a lazy man’s way out of the problem.

After all, how much effort does it take to delude oneself into believing something purely fabricated, so as to achieve a measure of escapism? It doesn’t take that much effort at all as attest to by the fact that children do this all the time with their concoction of make believe friends, and role playing their favorite super heroes. Belief in God, in order to find meaning or a higher purpose in life, is just as much a form of cheating in life, as answering on a biological test “God did it” when asked what caused a particular biological phenomenon, like photosynthesis. We don’t accept facile answers to academic questions, so why should we accept equally simplistic answer to the greatest question of all – what would give our lives a higher meaning?

We know that all of us, to some extent, express this yearning for something greater than ourselves. It can be seen in the spontaneous giving of material possessions to someone less fortunate, or the devotion of our time to some worthy cause. The pursuit of something transcending our self interest can be observed when we participate in politics, or use our creative energies for some other person’s benefit. There are a plethora of ways in which we can achieve the sensation of the numinous without engaging in superstitious beliefs about super beings who mete out punishment and rewards in the hereafter. You will know that humanity has matured when we abandon simplistic answers to the inner yearning for higher purpose, and find our solutions in our involvement in this world.

Answer 4

It is a human tendency, not a basic human need. Basic human needs are things that humans cannot survive without, and there are plenty of atheists in the world, including me.

I think it is a human tendency because we are social animals who feel the need to know all the answers to all of our questions about life - how we got here, what happens after death, etc. By saying that there is a god (or gods) and that only he (they) knows all the answers, we feel safe and cared for even if there is no one else in our life.

But it is not necessary to feel that way or want to feel that way.
:)

Answer 5

I think it is. Where do we come from, and why are we here have always been the most important questions. For me I believe that God created all that we see. I guess its just impossible for me to listen to another human try to tell me what happened several billion years ago. How the heck would he know.
So the opposite of that would be how the heck do you know that God created all of this. The answer to that is- it's personal
Anyone who truly believes that God created everything believes it because God has personally shown them that He is real

Answer 6

I believe the basic human need is To Have Purpose. God fulfills that need, because if he exists, our purpose is to make him happy. If he is only the Creator, but doesn't get involved at all, I don't think that fulfills the need.

I don't necessarily believe in God; I'm just answering the question.

Answer 7

No, otherwise how would you explain the existence of life long atheists. I think order and security are a basic human need and this lends itself to the belief that nature is ordered, which is essentially what religion claims.

Answer 8

No.

Sensing the presence of God is a basic human ability.

Answer 9

Yes and no. Although it is true that nearly every society from the beginning of human times has had some sort of religious or spiritual belief, it is also something we can live without. I would say that it is not true for the individual but it is true of society.

Answer 10

A belief that the tribe is important seems instinctive, as would be expected for a social animal. A willingness to yield to the alpha male also seems instinctive. These two traits are all that we need to understand the source of religion.