"Born to Hear God?" – Faith as a Psychological Process

This paper is in progress.

This ongoing research examines the psychological and neurological foundations of religious experience, drawing from cognitive science, neuropsychology, and recent advances in brain imaging. It explores whether religious belief and the perception of divine communication are rooted in innate cognitive processes or culturally constructed phenomena. Building on recent neuroscience research, which suggests that during prayer or meditation, individuals experience increased activity in areas associated with self-reflection (such as the default mode network) and decreased activity in regions involved in sensory input and external awareness, this study investigates how these patterns contribute to the perception of transcendence and divine presence.

The research further explores whether these brain states facilitate a sense of quietness or disconnection from the external world, offering a neurological basis for mystical experiences. By examining these mechanisms, I aim to analyze how faith operates within the human brain, particularly at the intersection of scientific and religious cognition. This interdisciplinary approach will investigate the interplay between intuitive reasoning, cultural transmission, and neurological responses, seeking to determine whether faith is a universal cognitive feature or a product of specific cultural environments and histories.