A Natural Tendency to Believe in God

An international research project found that humans have a natural tendency to believe in God. Directed by academics at the University of Oxford, the project involved 57 researchers examining diverse cultures across 20 countries. The project was not intended to prove or disprove the existence of God but to determine whether the concept of God, or gods, is learned or a basic aspect of human nature.

The studies were conducted in both traditionally religious countries and atheist societies. Among the findings were that children as young as age three believed in “all-seeing, all-knowing supernatural agents.” It seems normal for a child to have a natural tendency to believe in God, but atheism must be taught. The research also indicated that adults instinctively believe that some part of their mind, soul, or spirit lives on after death. In other words, people find it natural to believe in the separation of the mind and the body. Project director Dr. Justin Barrett of Oxford University said, “Interestingly, we found that religion is less likely to thrive in populations living in cities in developed nations…”

Project co-director Robert Trigg said, “We have gathered a body of evidence that suggests that religion is a common fact of human nature across different societies. This suggests that attempts to suppress religion are likely to be short-lived as human thought seems to be rooted to religious concepts…” Why would people want to “suppress religion,” or a natural tendency to believe in God? That question is especially significant since the research also found, not surprisingly, that people with religious ties are more likely to cooperate in societies.

This research project was conducted over three years, and the results were published in 2011. Despite the years that have passed, I suspect the results would still be the same today. The bottom line is that people everywhere naturally believe in God and in an afterlife. They have to be convinced otherwise. Are most members of the human race confused and wrong, or is there an inherent truth behind that belief? “He (God) has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end” (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV).

— Roland Earnst © 2026

Reference: phys.org