Psychology of Belief

When a dogma or belief system is fixed as the explanation for this unknown, there is a closing off, a blocking off of experimentation to discover or relate to it.

Science is remarkably close to offering a full naturalistic explanation of individual religious experiences, everything from certain belief to moral indignation to mystical rapture to spiritual transformation.

Just like the born again Christians who feel transformed by faith, those who feel freed from faith want to share their discovery with those they love.

All of us are biased to seek information that fits what we already believe. Confirmatory evidence jumps out at us, and we find it emotionally appealing.

The need to adapt may seem at odds with the recent success of fundamentalism, but in actual fact, fundamentalism is an adaptation to a changing world.

The born again experience doesn't require a specific set of beliefs, but rather a specific social/emotional process; dogmas or explanations are secondary. It's not an experience unique to Christianity.

As scientists learn more about how our brains work, certitude is coming to be seen as a vice rather than a virtue.

If dogs had a god, God would be a dog; if horses had a god, God would be a horse. Not all human gods or magical beings have human bodies, but they do, however, have human psyches -- minds with quirks and limitations that are peculiar to our species.