Religious thinking appears to be a universal human trait rooted in innate cognitive tendencies such as substance dualism, the perceived separation of body and mind. Children exhibit predispositions toward dualistic thinking, indicating a biological basis for spiritual intuition. Religion can offer adaptive advantages by fostering meaning, social connection, resilience, and improved mental health. Neurological structures for awakened awareness may be present from birth, enabling experiences of a shared sacred consciousness. Faith and science both pursue truths about existence, and recognizing these innate tendencies reframes religion as an evolved component of human cognition that supports psychological and communal well-being.
Why has religion been part of humanity since the beginning? Religious scholar Reza Aslan, PhD, clinical psychologist Lisa Miller, PhD, and former pastor Rob Bell, MDiv, explore innate spiritual instincts, the neuroscience of belief, and how faith and science both seek truth. They discuss substance dualism, religion's role in resilience and mental health, and why our brains may be wired to find meaning, connection, and a sense of something greater.
We created this video for Brain Briefs, a Big Think interview series created in partnership with Unlikely Collaborators. As a creative non-profit organization, they're on a mission to help people challenge their perceptions and expand their thinking. Often, that growth can start with just a single unlikely question that makes you rethink your convictions and adjust your vantage point. Visit Perception Box to see more in this series.
REZA ASLAN: Religious thinking has been a part of the human experience from the beginning. The question then becomes: why? Studies of children have shown that we are born with this instinct for what's called substance dualism - the idea that the body and the mind or soul are separate. Religious experience is a universal phenomenon. If it can be traced throughout all time, then there must be some adaptive advantage, otherwise it wouldn't exist.
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