Why do many humans want to believe the supernatural?

It is one thing that has boggled my mind! Psychics, Religion, Ghosts, Angels, even when you show them all the physiological evidence people will find a loophole excuse to believe it!!! Will humans ever grow out of it? Or will we go through a merry go round of superstitions??

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Permalink Reply by Фелч Гроган on December 18, 2008 at 9:17pm
Fear of the unknown. When you can't explain something, the reason has to be a spook. It puts their mind at ease, gives them a comforting faux feeling of not feeling dumb, though it makes them look dumber than ever. Religion in a nutshell.
Permalink Reply by Orson_Zedd on December 18, 2008 at 9:29pm
I believe we'll become more empirical as we advance. It's nice to have something to fall back on, but the supernatural doesn't have to be it. Plain old lies work just as well.
Permalink Reply by damian on December 18, 2008 at 10:48pm
I guess some people want to believe so that they won't have to take total control of their life. Also, reality is boring to them. It may be similar to the mindset of someone viewing themselves as an employee hoping for a raise rather than a self starter who knows no boundaries.
Permalink Reply by funk Q on December 19, 2008 at 3:10am
I think it's as simple as people getting together for mutal ____ (support, companionship, help, work, defence, you fill in the gap). After a while it develops into a group which eventually spawns leaders, doctrines, heroes/saints and an opposing 'force'. Eventually organised (name of concept) develops and to become stronger it needs more support so it conceives, converts and conquers to get members. Eventually, two such groups collide and there is conflict of some sort.

The same pattern repeats with every organisation whether it's based on reality or fantasy. In atheist minds the effects of the fantasy groups seem worse because we can see the problems and errors caused by ignoring the world of here and now.

Basically, people like to be with other people. To share something, even if it's not logical, is still comforting.
Permalink Reply by Anette on December 19, 2008 at 4:35am
Until humans get over their fear of death and Nihlism, religion will alway's be a part of life.

We just need to try and lesson it's most negative effects :)
Permalink Reply by Doug on December 19, 2008 at 5:06am
“There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors of perception” Aldous Huxley

There are things we do not know.

1: We will always try to find reason for the unknown.

2: Quantum Physics is suggesting the possibility of things existing at 2 locations at the same time, or of other universes existing in the same place at the same time. It is possible that there could be an overlap of time and space that is almost unseen and at present unexplainable.

While I do not believe in superstitions ( yes I know I have my own personal superstitions :) I have seen heard and experienced things that do somewhat defy explanation.

While I know there must be a reason for them at the moment none could really be suggested.

While I look to science for an explanation many would attribute these things to supernatural forces.
Permalink Reply by Dagwell on December 20, 2008 at 9:52pm
Doug,
What exactly have you heard or experienced that have defied explanationm, if I may politely ask?? I believe all this supernarural and unexplainable phenomena may just be a response of our brains; the total function of which will not be resolved in our lifetime. There will never be enough scientific education to answer everyone or everything.
Permalink Reply by Фелч Гроган on December 20, 2008 at 10:28pm
The brain caches memories in much the same way your web browser does. "Eyes playing tricks on you" in my opinion is, on rare occassions, like when your tired or off your face on something, you'll get flashes of cached information instead of what you're really looking at. I've experienced it a lot myself. Of course, there are an unfortunate number of assholes that choose the lazy "supernatural" option to explain these things.
Permalink Reply by funk Q on December 19, 2008 at 4:27pm
I think it is the acceptance that there are, most probably, rational and material causes of what we perceive, rather than entities existing outside the natural world, which separates us from the religious.

With people of faith, I have found, it always somebody else's interpretation of events which they believe. There is no attitude of 'something has happened and I can't explain it, now I'll move on'. They must have answer for everything, even though it makes no sense. At this stage the charlatans move in and supply explanations to fill the gap. This willingness to believe the most bizarre interpretations to assuage their doubt then makes them prey to all kinds of dubious claims of causality from elves to extraterrestrials.

Unfortunately, I can’t see there ever being a time when superstitious and supernatural beliefs will disappear. It’s not because of the failure of science, logic and reason it is because of the human desire for an answer to every question, combined with the plain deceitful nature of some people who can provide answers where there are none and make money doing so.
Permalink Reply by Tria on December 19, 2008 at 5:27pm
I doubt humanity will outgrow its need of 'something is out there' for a very, very long time.

Mankind has 'needed' beliefs for a very long time. From the sun-gods, animal-totems and spirit-guides up to the modern Jesus; society as a whole has seemed to rely on these 'out there, watching you' sort of ideas to keep society in line and under control. Next it will be some sort of Aliens or world-wide terrorists coming to take your children.

And yes, I'm a bit of a pessimist where human-kind is involved.
Permalink Reply by Jennifer W on December 20, 2008 at 7:06pm
I have to side with your point of view of pessimism to society. Everytime I get excited for a new landmark discovery, there's some one believing something stupid or doing really stupid things, or even worse people gathering in a stupid thing.
Permalink Reply by Gregg Deering on December 21, 2008 at 11:05am
Our answers to your question all seem to be similar. And naturally, correct. As far as pessimism goes (and I am among the pessimistic) - all the free-thinkers progressives (artists of various sorts etc..) have always been in the vast minority.

It takes courage to be different, particularly as we are sliding back not some sort of ignorant impoverishment. Unfortunately the US is mating its intellectual poverty with real material poverty. We will have to see if "Liberal" values of the next administration will combat the biblical nut-cases running the government and the country in to the ground.

But I think forums like this, or atheist fighting back in general, is a sign that we will fight the complacency that allows the majority to bully the minority.


Gregg

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