The great Enlightenment thinker John Locke (1632–1704) believed that human beings are born into the world with their minds as a tabula rasa (blank slate), with no innate knowledge, and that they act only on very basic instincts. From the moment of birth, then, the child gradually adds layer upon layer of knowledge, beginning with the sensation of touch and the recognition of a mother’s face and voice, adding complexity day by day. In time, the child’s knowledge expands to include abstract ideas such as 1 + 1 = 2, and that unicorns do not really exist. Others argue that children are born with certain knowledge and beliefs already built into their brains. In fact, there is an ongoing debate about whether children are truly “born that way,” or whether particular preferences are intentionally chosen, or a learned response. It is the old nature-versus-nurture debate, which, in recent times, has found fertile ground in the realm of religious belief. Some argue that religious belief is a learned response to parental indoctrination. It is further held that people losing their faith during young adulthood is a clear indication that they have learned about the world, and that religious belief is incompatible with real-world experience. When it comes to religious belief, secular society often argues that people are not “born that way,” lest they then be forced to admit that a Creator exists. Recent research, however, seems to indicate otherwise.
One study conducted by psychologist Jean Piaget showed that 80 percent of children four years old and younger can accurately answer that people make artifacts such as dolls, clothes, and houses, but not natural objects like trees and birds. When asked who, then, made trees and birds, children overwhelmingly see purposefulness in natural objects and attribute their origin to a power greater than human beings, such as God or god(s). In other words, children seem to understand that design in the world implies a Designer who creates purposeful objects and brings order out of disorder. Given this, it is unsurprising that when children then hear the concept of God as creator, it seems to make perfect sense to them, even when the existence of Superman does not. Child psychologist Justin Barrett notes, “essentially all human babies are born talkers— destined to acquire language—and born walkers—naturally going to learn to walk. Similarly, children are born believers in some kind of god.” Indeed, researchers find that children from all walks of life and across history share a propensity to seek an understanding of the world around them. Normal childhood mental development leads to beliefs that the world in which they live is purposefully designed and that an intelligent Designer is behind it all. It is also quite common for children to associate the Designer with the attributes of all-powerful, all-knowing, all-perceiving, and eternal.
Subsequent studies in adults seem to strengthen this idea that human beings are “born that way” when it comes to belief in God. Neurologist Michael Ferguson, who has conducted extensive research mapping changes in brain function in response to religious belief stimuli, notes, “The sense of the sacred and the pursuit of spirituality is something that taps into really, really deep instincts for us.” Indeed, research shows that there is a base-level, innate brain function to believe in God, as brain activation to religious stimuli occurs in the most primitive parts of the brain: the midbrain and the brain stem. Ferguson says the fact that these areas relate to spiritual stimuli is astounding, given that they are so primordial compared to regions of higher function like the cortex. Fellow researcher Andrew Newberg comments that human beings seem to be “hardwired” to believe in God and “have no choice but to try to interact with something greater than themselves.”
The funny thing is, none of this comes as any surprise to the Christian family. Sure, Christian parents very much want more than anything for their children to believe as they do. But over and against any perceived benefits, possibly and temporarily realized by indoctrination, Christians know that Jesus Himself taught that “unless [unbelievers] turn and become like children, [they] will never enter thekingdomofheaven”(Matt.18:2). Why? It is actually quite simple: the apostle Paul taught that all human beings, even from birth, know that there is a God because they are “born that way.” Paul says that man instinctively knows that the creator God exists, but often intentionally “suppresses the truth about God” and becomes “foolish” in their thinking (Rom. 1:19-20). It seems that the adage may very well be true: all children are born believers. Disbelief must be intentionally taught. Once again, science and religion seamlessly merge, and the Cross stands over it all.
Joinusagainnexttimeaswelook at the unnaturalness of atheism. Until then, as the evidence mounts, what say you? Is God dead?
Gloria in excelsis Deo! Ty B. Kerley, DMin., is an ordained minister who teaches Christian apologetics, and relief preaches in Southern Oklahoma. Dr. Kerley and his wife Vicki are members of the Waurika church of Christ, and live in Ardmore. You can contact him at: dr.kerley@isGoddead.com.