University of Tasmania, Australia

Cognitive scientists, anthropologists and evolutionary theorists have developed sophisticated and testable theories of why humans believe in gods and other invisible beings. Should these theories, which are purely naturalistic, lead believers in God to doubt their beliefs and instead suspect that it is nature and not God that explains why they believe? After surveying some of the recent theories, Dr Joshua Thurow argues that believers in God may be entirely rational in holding their religious beliefs even with full knowledge of these theories, although they may need to reject some common reasons for believing in God.