What Causes Religious Belief? | Episode 1307 | Closer To Truth

What causes religious belief? Why are religions so pervasive, across diverse human cultures? If God exists, would God have made it so? But there are entirely natural reasons to expect the widespread belief in God. Featuring interviews with Colin Blakemore, Thalia Wheatley, Justin Barrett, Bruce Hood, Elizabeth Loftus, Warren Brown, Jared Diamond, J.L. Schellenberg, and Stuart Kauffman.

Season 13, Episode 7 - #CloserToTruth

Closer To Truth host Robert Lawrence Kuhn takes viewers on an intriguing global journey into cutting-edge labs, magnificent libraries, hidden gardens, and revered sanctuaries in order to discover state-of-the-art ideas and make them real and relevant.

Closer to Truth presents the world’s greatest thinkers exploring humanity’s deepest questions. Discover fundamental issues of existence. Engage new and diverse ways of thinking. Appreciate intense debates. Share your own opinions. Seek your own answers.

#Religion #Cause

[derektomko]

Closer to Truth asks great questions and by the end of almost every episode I find myself feeling further from

[mahamudra]

"Our fathers are our first gods" -Carlos Santana. The desire to be comforted by something bigger than ourselves in the face of fear and uncertainty.

[Gjermund-Sivertsen]

How can any believer IN any religion not see that others with contradicting beliefs use the same three ingredients for their beliefs: 1: Personal experience, 2: Apologetics, 3: Faith.
And, when you realize it, how can you still believe in your version/religion?

The best religion is Life! It is amazing.

Closer To Truth.. but never close enough to find out... It's a thought-provoking series. Thanks

[emmanueltafirenyika]

11:30 - “we have a mind that is predisposed to seeing causality” Best explanation for religious belief 👏👏

[TheScure]

Perfect topic for some ego flexing in comment section

[ChristopherWentling]

To me specifically Christianity opens up a way of transcending the inadequacy of our own goodness and of what we could be but fail to be and offers a road to a possible redemption of not only myself but to the universe. This in my mind is expressed in the Catholic Confiteor: I confess to God Almighty, before the whole company of heaven, and to you my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned in thought, word, and deed; in what I have done and in what I have failed to do. The problem of the inability to live up to the good exists whether God exists or not but those who downplay the problem are in my opinion not looking deeply at the problem. It is at its core the problem of evil and how we as perpetrators in this evil can somehow have hope that we can overcome it.

[HawthorneHillNaturePreserve]

Kuhn is fearless. He asks questions and gets chastised about some of them from some but he persists. The only stupid question is the one not asked.

[snukkelpuppie]

Fear of death, childhood indoctrination and good old wishful thinking.

[LadyFromVulcan]

Brilliant video. If only there were more people like Mr. Kuhn saying: "Hey, this is what I believe - so let's first consider the opposite of what I think is true."

[jamesnasmith]

The more we understand nature the less we need the supernatural and the more satisfaction there is in feeling apart of the unfolding universe.

[michaelpumo]

I believe that religious experience and the power it has to motivate communities of people is something that has been naturally selected for. Whether right or wrong in its assumptions, culturally, it serves its purpose to push cooperation and 'togetherness' forward; allowing a more powerful force to overcome adversity.

I'm not religious at all and don't believe in a God but this is where I feel that the sense of 'something else' comes from; a desire to fit in and work together for a common goal. It's kept groups of people alive for thousands of years and has proven very effective to that end.

[tyamada]

A segment from 'Saved by the Light of the Buddha Within'...
My new understandings of what many call 'God -The Holy Spirit' - resulting from some of the extraordinary ongoing after-effects relating to my NDE...

Myoho-Renge-Kyo represents the identity of what some scientists are now referring to as the unified field of consciousnesses. In other words, it’s the essence of all existence and non-existence – the ultimate creative force behind planets, stars, nebulae, people, animals, trees, fish, birds, and all phenomena, manifest or latent. All matter and intelligence are simply waves or ripples manifesting to and from this core source. Consciousness (enlightenment) is itself the actual creator of everything that exists now, ever existed in the past, or will exist in the future – right down to the minutest particles of dust – each being an individual ripple or wave.
The big difference between chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo and most other conventional prayers is that instead of depending on a ‘middleman’ to connect us to our state of inner enlightenment, we’re able to do it ourselves. That’s because chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo allows us to tap directly into our enlightened state by way of this self-produced sound vibration. ‘Who or What Is God?’ If we compare the concept of God being a separate entity that is forever watching down on us, to the teachings of Nichiren, it makes more sense to me that the true omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence of what most people perceive to be God, is the fantastic state of enlightenment that exists within each of us. Some say that God is an entity that’s beyond physical matter – I think that the vast amount of information continuously being conveyed via electromagnetic waves in today’s world gives us proof of how an invisible state of God could indeed exist.
For example, it’s now widely known that specific data relayed by way of electromagnetic waves has the potential to help bring about extraordinary and powerful effects – including an instant global awareness of something or a mass emotional reaction. It’s also common knowledge that these invisible waves can easily be used to detonate a bomb or to enable NASA to control the movements of a robot as far away as the Moon or Mars – none of which is possible without a receiver to decode the information that’s being transmitted. Without the receiver, the data would remain impotent. In a very similar way, we need to have our own ‘receiver’ switched on so that we can activate a clear and precise understanding of our own life, all other life and what everything else in existence is.
Chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo each day helps us to achieve this because it allows us to reach the core of our enlightenment and keep it switched on. That’s because Myoho-Renge-Kyo represents the identity of what scientists now refer to as the unified field of consciousnesses. To break it down – Myoho represents the Law of manifestation and latency (Nature) and consists of two alternating states. For example, the state of Myo is where everything in life that’s not obvious to us exists – including our stored memories when we’re not thinking about them – our hidden potential and inner emotions whenever they’re dormant – our desires, our fears, our wisdom, happiness, karma – and more importantly, our enlightenment.
The other state, ho, is where everything in Life exists whenever it becomes evident to us, such as when a thought pops up from within our memory – whenever we experience or express our emotions – or whenever a good or bad cause manifests as an effect from our karma. When anything becomes apparent, it merely means that it’s come out of the state of Myo (dormancy/latency) and into a state of ho (manifestation). It’s the difference between consciousness and unconsciousness, being awake or asleep, or knowing and not knowing.
The second law – Renge – Ren meaning cause and ge meaning effect, governs and controls the functions of Myoho – these two laws of Myoho and Renge, not only function together simultaneously but also underlies all spiritual and physical existence.
The final and third part of the tri-combination – Kyo, is the Law that allows Myoho to integrate with Renge – or vice versa. It’s the great, invisible thread of energy that fuses and connects all Life and matter – as well as the past, present and future. It’s also sometimes termed the Universal Law of Communication – perhaps it could even be compared with the string theory that many scientists now suspect exists.
Just as the cells in our body, our thoughts, feelings and everything else is continually fluctuating within us – all that exists in the world around us and beyond is also in a constant state of flux – constantly controlled by these three fundamental laws. In fact, more things are going back and forth between the two states of Myo and ho in a single moment than it would ever be possible to calculate or describe. And it doesn’t matter how big or small, famous or trivial anything or anyone may appear to be, everything that’s ever existed in the past, exists now or will exist in the future, exists only because of the workings of the Laws ‘Myoho-Renge-Kyo’ – the basis of the four fundamental forces, and if they didn’t function, neither we nor anything else could go on existing. That’s because all forms of existence, including the seasons, day, night, birth, death and so on, are moving forward in an ongoing flow of continuation – rhythmically reverting back and forth between the two fundamental states of Myo and ho in absolute accordance with Renge – and by way of Kyo. Even stars are dying and being reborn under the workings of what the combination ‘Myoho-Renge-Kyo’ represents. Nam, or Namu – which mean the same thing, are vibrational passwords or keys that allow us to reach deep into our life and fuse with or become one with ‘Myoho-Renge-Kyo’.
On a more personal level, nothing ever happens by chance or coincidence, it’s the causes that we’ve made in our past, or are presently making, that determine how these laws function uniquely in each of our lives – as well as the environment from moment to moment. By facing east, in harmony with the direction that the Earth is spinning, and chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo for a minimum of, let’s say, ten minutes daily to start with, any of us can experience actual proof of its positive effects in our lives – even if it only makes us feel good on the inside, there will be a definite positive effect. That’s because we’re able to pierce through the thickest layers of our karma and activate our inherent Buddha Nature (our enlightened state). By so doing, we’re then able to bring forth the wisdom and good fortune that we need to challenge, overcome and change our adverse circumstances – turn them into positive ones – or manifest and gain even greater fulfilment in our daily lives from our accumulated good karma. This also allows us to bring forth the wisdom that can free us from the ignorance and stupidity that’s preventing us from accepting and being proud of the person that we indeed are – regardless of our race, colour, gender or sexuality. We’re also able to see and understand our circumstances and the environment far more clearly, as well as attract and connect with any needed external beneficial forces and situations. As I’ve already mentioned, everything is subject to the law of Cause and Effect – the ‘actual-proof-strength’ resulting from chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo always depends on our determination, sincerity and dedication.
For example, the levels of difference could be compared to making a sound on a piano, creating a melody, producing a great song, and so on. Something else that’s very important to always respect and acknowledge is that the Law (or if you prefer God) is in everyone and everything.

NB: There are frightening and disturbing sounds, and there are tranquil and relaxing sounds. It’s the emotional result of any noise or sound that can trigger off a mood or even instantly change one. When chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo each day, we are producing a sound vibration that’s the password to our true inner-self – this soon becomes apparent when you start reassessing your views on various things – such as your fears and desires etc. The best way to get the desired result when chanting is not to view things conventionally – rather than reaching out to an external source, we need to reach into our own lives and bring our needs and desires to fruition from within – including the good fortune and strength to achieve any help that we may need. Chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo also reaches out externally and draws us towards, or draws towards us, what we need to make us happy from our environment. For example, it helps us to be in the right place at the right time – to make better choices and decisions and so forth. We need to think of it as a seed within us that we’re watering and bringing sunshine to for it to grow, blossom and bring forth fruit or flowers. It’s also important to understand that everything we need in life, including the answer to every question and the potential to achieve every dream, already exists within us.

[tomashull]

@5:30 "...Science can never disprove God. It's not a falsifiable question..." Science cannot logically prove nonexistence. For science to prove that God does not exist would require omniscience. In other words, science would have to have the very ability of all-knowing God to disprove the non-existence of all-knowing God…

[nyworker]

Makes sense. The concept of religion is a modern perspectively. In today's world we rely on political authorities, businessmen, medical authorities and entertainers etc for guidance filtered through media. In the ancient world religion authorities were the main game in town for learning about the origin of life and guidance.

[Scribe]

It's a necessary component of the human mind

[EspinalPhotography]

Beautiful video which does bring us Closer To Truth.

[johnreagin]

I love the Aenima-esque beginning of this show. ;)

[hauntedasylum]

The imagination that we are eternal, and with begining and without end.

[jeffreyphillips]

I see it as a sense of community, a need to bond with others in like and kind. That is, for most, but not all as there are those that wander off by themselves to seek a deeper understanding and meaning of what they think God is. Perhaps they're looking for an answer to this weird existence, a mind boggling enigma to say the least

[omgsolikevalleygirl]

I'm sick of antireligionists attempting to reduce religion to "wrong facts". There is a lot more to it, it is a realm of human expression, and if you get rid of religion, you will lose your language.