Chapter 1: The Origins of Belief

We are not born with control over our beliefs or the knowledge we accumulate about the world. Instead, we inherit instinctive memories that have evolved over countless generations. My own journey began similarly.

During my early years, I was a devoted Christian. It appeared to be the accepted norm, as many adults around me embraced it as an unquestionable truth—akin to the necessity of breathing. This belief seemed like an unchallengeable fact of life.

Over time, however, I began to notice imperfections in this seemingly flawless worldview. I recall a moment spent alone in the car while my mother ran errands. To keep myself occupied, I opened my catechism notebook and jotted down questions such as, “How can God be everywhere?” and “Why does God allow suffering?” I compiled a list of twenty such inquiries.

When I presented these questions to my catechists, their responses were consistently vague: “God willed it,” or “Because He is God.” Interestingly, my biology classes later revealed that snakes lack legs due to evolution rather than divine retribution.

As my curiosity about the natural world grew, the mysteries of existence began to unravel, eliminating the need for a supernatural explanation.

Chapter 2: The Impact of Knowledge on Faith

As I gained a deeper understanding of various phenomena, a thought struck me: If ancient civilizations had access to the knowledge we possess today, would religion have developed in the same way? Initially, I thought the answer was a firm "no," but I have since reconsidered this stance.

I chose to step away from religious beliefs at a young age, as they no longer resonated with me. Yet, many of my scientifically-minded friends continue to hold onto their faith, despite our frequent debates on the subject. This led me to ponder whether humanity is inherently predisposed to believe in a higher power.

Is God a Construct of the Mind?

The following video explores this theme intriguingly.

The video titled "Of Gods and Men | Official Trailer HD (2010)" illustrates how children respond to the concept of a supernatural being through an experiment called “Princess Alice is Watching.” In this setup, children were asked to throw balls at a target while being monitored by an adult or an imaginary entity, “Princess Alice.” The results showed that those who believed in the presence of Alice tended to adhere to the rules more than those who were unsupervised.

Chapter 3: Understanding Supernatural Experiences

Another intriguing experiment involved neuroscientists who investigated the perception of unseen presences. In this study, a blindfolded individual controlled a robot arm that mimicked their movements. After introducing a delay, participants reported sensing various presences around them, some even feeling multiple entities.

This illustrates how our brains can misinterpret sensory information, leading to feelings of otherworldly presences. Such experiences may significantly influence belief systems in many religions.