Religious Belief Is Not Linked to Rational Thinking

Author: Coventry University
Published: 8 Nov 2017 - Updated: 17 Sep 2026
Publication Details: Peer-Reviewed | Survey, Analysis

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This peer-reviewed research challenges the notion that religious belief is directly linked to intuition or rational thinking. Contradicting previous studies, researchers from Coventry and Oxford Universities found no correlation between intuitive/analytical thinking, cognitive inhibition, and supernatural beliefs. The study, involving tests on pilgrims and brain stimulation experiments, suggests that upbringing and socio-cultural processes play a greater role in shaping religious beliefs. This information could be particularly interesting and helpful for individuals with disabilities, seniors, and others who may have experienced social isolation or limited access to diverse perspectives, as it highlights the influence of environment and education on belief systems, rather than inherent cognitive styles.*

At a Glance

• 1 - Brain stimulation raised cognitive inhibition but left supernatural belief unchanged. This showed no direct link between the two.
• 2 - The findings appeared in Scientific Reports, a peer-reviewed journal. It was the first study to challenge two decades of intuition-based theory.
• 3 - Researchers tested pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain. They measured belief strength against performance on a probability task.
• 4 - A second experiment used mathematical puzzles to boost intuitive thinking in participants. Even with heightened intuition, no connection to supernatural belief emerged.

Topic Definition

Religious Belief

Religious belief is the acceptance of and commitment to the existence of gods, supernatural forces, or a sacred order that shapes how a person understands life, morality, and the world around them. For a long time, many researchers assumed this kind of belief springs from a natural, gut-level way of thinking, as though some people are simply wired to trust in the unseen while others reason it away. The Coventry and Oxford findings push back on that idea. Rather than treating faith as a fixed cognitive style people are born with, the research points to upbringing, education, and the wider social and cultural world a person grows up in as the forces that truly shape what they come to believe. In that sense, religious belief is better understood as something learned and nurtured over time than as an instinct hardwired into the mind.

Overview

Belief in Gods Not Linked to Rational Thinking

Religious beliefs are not linked to intuition or rational thinking, according to new research by the universities of Coventry and Oxford. Previous studies have suggested people who hold strong religious beliefs are more intuitive and less analytical, and when they think more analytically, their religious beliefs decrease. But new research by academics from Coventry University's Centre for Advances in Behavioral Science and neuroscientists and philosophers at Oxford University suggests that is not the case and that people are not 'born believers.'

The study - which included tests on pilgrims taking part in the famous Camino de Santiago and a brain stimulation experiment - found no link between intuitive/analytical thinking, cognitive inhibition (an ability to suppress unwanted thoughts and actions), and supernatural beliefs.

Instead, the academics conclude that other factors, such as upbringing and socio-cultural processes, are more likely to play a greater role in religious beliefs.

The study - published in Scientific Reports - was the first to challenge a growing trend among cognitive psychologists over the past 20 years that has attempted to show that believing in the supernatural is something that comes to us 'naturally' or intuitively.

The team started by investigating one of the largest pilgrimage routes in the world - the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, in northern Spain.

They asked pilgrims about the strength of their beliefs and the length of time spent on the pilgrimage and assessed their levels of intuitive thinking with a probability task, where participants had to decide between a logical and a 'gut feeling' choice. The results suggested no link between the strength of supernatural belief and intuition.

Second Study

In a second study, where they used mathematical puzzles to increase intuition, they also found no link between levels of intuitive thinking and supernatural belief.

In the last part of their research, they used brain stimulation to increase levels of cognitive inhibition, which is thought to regulate analytical thinking.

This involved running a painless electrical current between two electrodes placed on the participant's scalp to activate the right inferior frontal gyrus, a part of the brain that controls inhibitory control. A previous brain-imaging study had shown that atheists used this area of the brain more when they wanted to suppress supernatural ideas.

The results showed that while this brain stimulation increased levels of cognitive inhibition, it did not change levels of supernatural belief, suggesting there is no direct link between cognitive inhibition and supernatural belief.

The academics say that it is "premature" to explain belief in gods as intuitive or natural.

Instead, they say their research supports a theory that religion is a nurture-based process and develops because of socio-cultural processes, including upbringing and education.

Leading author Miguel Farias said:

"What drives our belief in gods - intuition or reason; heart or head? There has been a long debate on this matter, but our studies have challenged the theory that being a religious believer is determined by how much individuals rely on intuitive or analytical thinking."

"We don't think people are 'born believers in the same way we inevitably learn a language at an early age. The available sociological and historical data show that what we believe is mainly based on social and educational factors, not cognitive styles, such as intuitive/analytical thinking."

"Religious belief is most likely rooted in culture rather than in some primitive gut intuition."

Frequently Asked Questions

NOTE: Researched FAQs by Disabled World (DW)

Does thinking analytically make a person lose religious belief

According to the Coventry and Oxford research, no. Increasing analytical or intuitive thinking in the experiments did not change the strength of supernatural belief.

What is the Camino de Santiago and why was it used in this study

The Camino de Santiago de Compostela is one of the largest pilgrimage routes in the world, located in northern Spain. Researchers used it to test whether the strength of belief among pilgrims was linked to intuitive thinking.

What is cognitive inhibition

Cognitive inhibition is the ability to suppress unwanted thoughts and actions. It is thought to help regulate analytical thinking in the brain.

Which part of the brain did the researchers stimulate

They stimulated the right inferior frontal gyrus, a region that controls inhibitory control. Earlier imaging work had shown atheists using this area more when suppressing supernatural ideas.

Who led the research on religious belief and thinking styles

The lead author was Miguel Farias. The work was carried out by academics at Coventry University and neuroscientists and philosophers at Oxford University.

Does this study prove that gods do or do not exist

No, the study makes no claim about whether gods exist. It only examines whether belief is driven by thinking style or by social and cultural factors.

What does the phrase born believers mean

It refers to the idea that people are naturally or instinctively inclined toward supernatural belief from birth. The research challenges this idea and favors a learned, nurture-based explanation.

Why is this research relevant to disability and senior communities

It highlights how environment and education shape belief rather than inborn cognitive traits. This supports more empathetic and inclusive dialogue that respects personal histories and cultural backgrounds.

Hyperreligiosity: When Faith Becomes a Clinical Sign: Hyperreligiosity explained: how neurological disease, psychosis and rigid belief turn devotion into measurable harm, disability and preventable death.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: This study serves as a reminder that our beliefs are molded by a complex interplay of personal experiences and cultural influences, prompting us to consider how these forces shape our understanding of the world and encouraging tolerance and understanding of differing perspectives. The study forces a realistic reevaluation of how we understand the origins of religious belief, moving the focus from individual cognitive processes to the broader socio-cultural environments that nurture such beliefs. Recognizing the role of cultural and educational influences can lead to more inclusive and respectful dialogues about faith, especially in diverse and multicultural settings. For communities and professionals supporting individuals with disabilities or the elderly, this perspective fosters a more empathetic approach that honors personal histories and cultural backgrounds in discussions about belief systems.*

Attribution/Source(s): This peer reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Coventry University and published on 8 Nov 2017, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.

* Editorial additions by Ian C. Langtree.