👶 Born Without Gods: Atheism's Universal Starting Point

The source argues that atheism is the default state of the human mind, asserting that people are not born with religious beliefs but are taught them as they grow. Drawing on research from cognitive science, psychology, and anthropology, the author proposes that innate cognitive tools, such as hyperactive agency detection, contribute to the development of religious ideas, often stemming from childhood fears. The piece compares the development of religious belief to the persistence of belief in figures like the bogeyman, suggesting that religion represents a cultural and social endorsement of these fundamental cognitive tendencies, in contrast to philosophical Buddhism which resists this agent-based bias. The author concludes that theism is a culturally installed “module” rather than an inherent aspect of human nature, making atheism the more rational starting point.Read more: 👶Born Without Gods: Atheism's Universal Starting Point  Welcome This publication focus on atheism, but with a scientific touch. Learn more (https://medium.com/scientists-free-from-religious)This publication focus on atheism, but with a scientific touch.Learn moreWe are on Spotify.