Does a fear of death make you more skeptical of religion?
Are you sure?
A recent study suggests while fear of death may make atheists more consciously skeptical, our unconscious isn’t so sure.
Not that this should make you question your unbelief, our subconscious does lots of things that aren’t necessarily welcome. But as the researchers point out, it does point to why religion may be so pervasive.
“These findings may help solve part of the puzzle of why religion is such a persistent and pervasive feature of society. Fear of death is a near-universal human experience and religious beliefs are suspected to play an important psychological role in warding off this anxiety.
So, when thinking about or being faced with death, be extra cautious about your unconscious motivations… you may be less skeptical than you think.