Is our Brain Pre-Wired to Believe in G-d?

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nguirado said:
It should be noted that very few people who claim they don’t believe in God are complete nihilists. Many replace God with something else or still retain some ordering of the world.
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Good point! G-d may be replaced by Karma, or destiny. The desire for some kind of order seems to be a motivational need, with or without the belief in G-d.
 
Windfish said:
I want to say in the first place that I am really, really skeptical of evolutionary psychology. It does not make any sense to me at all that attitudes and modes of thinking are traits that are passed along in evolution -when people say we’ve evolved this or that, I get frustrated. There is no way anyone can possibly say that with any authority since it is just speculation, and when you dig deeper, it is not clear what that statement even means. Because, as I said, just how are attitudes and modes of thinking genetic traits? Just how are those intangible things passed on through descent? I think any reasonable person should be able to sympathize with my confusion and frustration. I am not a young earth creationist, but I don’t think you have to be to see that there is a lot of bluff in that area of science.
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Well, I’m not so sure evolutionary psychology is JUST speculation. But I can appreciate your frustration on this point. Thanks for your comment!
 
meltzerboy said:
I invite your opinions regarding whether the belief in G-d (or gods) is something that is pre-wired in our brain
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“pre-wired”:hmmm:

Would that implied that neurosurgeons are nothing more then glorified electricians:shrug:🤷

😛
 
As a former teacher of young children and a mom, I find that children have a natural disposition to seek information regarding who they are, more so than merely nature and heritage. Children ask, “Where did I come from?”, “Who made me?”, “Why am I here?” and related questions that are philosophical and theological in their own special way. They find it easy to believe in God.
“And the meek shall possess the earth.”
I think it takes some kind of brainwashing to destroy the childlike faith of little ones.

Jesus tells us that “It would be better that a millstone were put around their necks and they were tossed into the sea” if they hurt the faith of such as these.
 
4Horsemen said:
As a former teacher of young children and a mom, I find that children have a natural disposition to seek information regarding who they are, more so than merely nature and heritage. Children ask, “Where did I come from?”, “Who made me?”, “Why am I here?” and related questions that are philosophical and theological in their own special way. They find it easy to believe in God.
“And the meek shall possess the earth.”
I think it takes some kind of brainwashing to destroy the childlike faith of little ones.

Jesus tells us that “It would be better that a millstone were put around their necks and they were tossed into the sea” if they hurt the faith of such as these.
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And in the famous book by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, “On Death and Dying,” in which she describes her work with dying children, she says that children are so much more accepting and unfearful of death than adults; their faith is real. Thanks so much for your insightful post!
 
meltzerboy said:
Good point! G-d may be replaced by Karma, or destiny. The desire for some kind of order seems to be a motivational need, with or without the belief in G-d.
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I believe it is a rational need given that the universe is orderly and intelligible. Why should human life be an exception? There is at least one very good reason: what occurs within the universe can be explained by natural causes whereas they are insufficient to explain how we should live. Otherwise the law of the jungle replaces morality…

Karma or the belief in cosmic justice is a cogent explanation of moral values but by itself it is an insufficient explanation of rational existence. Morality and rationality are interdependent. Morality presupposes rationality and vice versa. Neither explain their own existence. The simplest and best explanation of both is a rational Source of goodness and justice.
 
meltzerboy said:
I invite your opinions regarding whether the belief in G-d (or gods) is something that is pre-wired in our brain (in the form of the Holy Spirit, or the soul, if you prefer). Most–if not all–cultures have believed in G-d, or gods, or some spiritual entity. Why do you think that is?

If you believe the above, do you also think that people who do NOT believe in G-d (or gods) are somehow “disordered” in the sense of a different brain wiring? (I realize this is a heated question, and please note, I am not, for the present, expressing my own view on this issue one way or the other. I also hope the question does not violate the Forum rules about discussing a topic relative to atheism. If it does, the Forum Moderator may withdraw this part of the post, and please do not respond to it.)
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I think not, because many people change their belief both ways. Atheists convert, believers fall away. And I don’t think this is because of any re-wiring in the brain; though I imagine every change in belief or outlook has as its material basis a change in the brain’s constitution (it is not the cause of the changes, though; the cause are arguments, facts, experiences; to deny this would make a mockery of every single action we do).
 
I’m a live wire and frequestly get a cross-wire… but I’m certainly not pre-wired 😃

I also dont replace a belief in a god with anything else like karma or some such.

For me, this earth, this life, is just what it is… no more no less…and Im so happy and comfortable with that fact.

Sarah x 🙂
 
I like this little quote by Pascal: “There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus.”
 
atheistgirl
**
For me, this earth, this life, is just what it is… no more no less…and Im so happy and comfortable with that fact.**

I think that is not true. You are searching for something better than my dog’s philosophy. That is why you are here at Catholic Answers. 😉
 
Charlemagne_II said:
You are searching for something better than my dog’s philosophy. That is why you are here at Catholic Answers. 😉
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Im honestly not. 🙂

And if I were, the amount of faiths, and sub divisions of faiths, would make it simply impossible for me to ever know where to even begin.

I do enjoy talking with people, and I do enjoy religious and philosophical discussions - but Im honestly not looking for anything. I cant really express in words on a forum just how happy and contented I really am - leaving aside the normal worries of kids, schools, food shopping, bills and trying to find that elusive 25th hour in the working day 🙂

Sarah x 🙂
 
And if I were, the amount of faiths, and sub divisions of faiths, would make it simply impossible for me to ever know where to even begin.

You knew instinctively to start here. Good instinct! 👍
 
atheistgirl said:
I cant really express in words on a forum just how happy and contented I really am - leaving aside the normal worries of kids, schools, food shopping, bills and trying to find that elusive 25th hour in the working day
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Are you content with the injustice in the world?
 
Charlemagne_II said:
atheistgirl
**
For me, this earth, this life, is just what it is… no more no less…and Im so happy and comfortable with that fact.**

I think that is not true. You are searching for something better than my dog’s philosophy. That is why you are here at Catholic Answers. 😉
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However, your dog is so happy with so little! Not such a bad philosophy even if different from most of us humans, who are forever thinking and re-thinking, searching and finding and searching again, often tormented with conflicting emotions, doubts, concerns, accompanying our joys and pleasures. We adults are so intelligent and complex, but, for all our intellect, are we any happier or more loving than our simple animal friends once we leave the “innocence” of young childhood?
 
meltzerboy

**We adults are so intelligent and complex, but, for all our intellect, are we any happier or more loving than our simple animal friends once we leave the “innocence” of young childhood? **

Happier or more loving? I think if we are less happy and less loving it is because of original sin. Or as Chesterton said, if we appear to be the only animal that is not content with himself … that is a good reason to believe in original sin and our everlasting search to recover lost innocence.
 
Charlemagne_II said:
meltzerboy

We adults are so intelligent and complex, but, for all our intellect, are we any happier or more loving than our simple animal friends once we leave the “innocence” of young childhood?

Happier or more loving? I think if we are less happy and less loving it is because of original sin. Or as Chesterton said, if we appear to be the only animal that is not content with himself … that is a good reason to believe in original sin and our everlasting search to recover lost innocence.
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Perhaps you are right. Or maybe it is also a good reason to believe that we think too much rather than “surrender” to the joy of life as animals and children can do so well, and as G-d may have intended. (BTW, Judaism does not believe in original sin.)
 
shoe said:
I like this little quote by Pascal: “There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus.”
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I do not have that vacuum. I’m like Sarah, I don’t replace belief in God with karma or any sort of thing. Spirituality perplexes me - baffles me even. There is not even a trace of theism in me.
meltzerboy said:
However, your dog is so happy with so little! … are we any happier or more loving than our simple animal friends once we leave the “innocence” of young childhood?
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I am not happier than my animal friends, even as a child I was not. I can only speak for myself of course. For the most part, I am jealous of dogs. Except that they don’t get to eat chocolate!
 
meltzerboy said:
Perhaps you are right. Or maybe it is also a good reason to believe that we think too much rather than “surrender” to the joy of life as animals and children can do so well, and as G-d may have intended. (BTW, Judaism does not believe in original sin.)
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Human beings seem to be conditioned (‘wired’?) to seek for knowledge whether mundane or spiritual. It seems to be part of our growth and development that we start out as little children without guile, innocent and believing that Someone made us and the world around us. As we mature, we look for logical answers and use reason, seeking to discover our purpose in existence and the ‘why’ of things.

The concept of ‘original sin’ explains why God’s perfect creation (including man) was marred and why we can only see as through a dark glass. It also explains our motive, desire or need to ‘find ourselves’, that is, our reason for being. You’ve most likely heard St. Augustine’s statement that "our hearts are not at rest until they rest in Thee.’

How does Judaism explain evil in the world?
 
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