Why We Believe in the Unbelievable

The battle by scientists against irrational beliefs such as creationism is ultimately futile.
The work of Bruce Hood, a professor at Bristol University, suggests that magical and supernatural beliefs are hardwired into our brains from birth, and that religions are therefore tapping into a powerful psychological force.

"I think it is pointless to think that we can get people to abandon their belief systems because they are operating at such a fundamental level," said Prof Hood. "No amount of rational evidence is going to be taken on board to get people to abandon those ideas."

See also:
http://www.elementsofhumanity.com/#/video/entry/30/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/sep/04/religion.uk
http://psychology.psy.bris.ac.uk/people/brucehood.htm

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Bruce
• Hood
• Supernatural
• Supersense
• God
• Christ
• Magic
• Superstition
• Brain
• Mind
• Thought
• Religion

[MrNytn2001]

why? because people can't believe the so called "intelligent design" is only intelligence and orderly during this brief moment in universal space time. the "random nothingness" that we actually are and that we live in on earth will prevail. have no doubt it will prevail. if our design was so intelligent there would be enough room for all of us to live together in peace, without crime, racism or war and we would never get disease and we'd all live forever. we wouldn't expire after 70 or 80 years.

[CardinalRaker]

I often ask myself the same thing when it comes to psychology. Why do people believe in it.