The Instinct to Believe: Traces of Faith in Human Nature

Have you ever wondered why humans tend to seek meaning and purpose in life, even in highly secular societies? A recent study has uncovered something surprising: even in countries where religion has declined, atheists still show an intuitive preference for religious belief!

Research by Gervais et al. (2025) found that although many nations have seen a rapid decline in religiosity, the influence of religion still lingers in human thought patterns. Using an experimental philosophy task, they discovered that even atheists in eight secular countries—including Canada, Japan, Sweden, and Vietnam—intuitively favor religious belief over atheism. This supports philosopher Daniel Dennett’s theory of belief in belief—the idea that people, on a subconscious level, still recognize value in religious belief, even if they themselves are not religious.

This study suggests that belief is not just something taught but something deeply embedded in human instincts. Throughout history, religion has played a vital role in shaping societies and fostering cooperation. Even as many today claim to be non-religious, their instincts still lean toward belief rather than the absence of God.

A reflection for us

The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 3:11,

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart..."

This verse reminds us that God has placed a longing for something greater within us. Even as the world becomes more secular, the desire for meaning and truth remains in the human heart.

If we see people drifting away from faith, we should not lose hope. Perhaps they are simply searching. And who knows? One day, the instinct that God has planted in them may lead them back to Him.

Reference

W.M. Gervais, R.T. McKay, J.L. Brown-Iannuzzi, R.M. Ross, G. Pennycook, J. Jong, & J.A. Lanman, Belief in belief: Even atheists in secular countries show intuitive preferences favoring religious belief, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 122 (13) e2404720122, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2404720122 (2025).