I’m an atheist. So why can’t I shake God?

[Brettongarcia]

44. My point

Sometimes many people appear to make exaggerated statements, just because we have taken only part of what they said. In this case, deleting one earlier paragraph, with ellipses, and adding this one, would have better introduced the author's point.

Regarding our atheist's point? I think the case that we are " hardwired" for religion is not good. Hardwired means built into the physical structure of the brain. Implying that say, chimpanzees might have religion. But more likely, most of it is not biological, but cultural. Most of us over 30 were very, very systematically indoctrinated in religion, in Sunday School or church or school, or through tv religion and social pressure. Which was anything but natural or biological.

Those who believe, like to assert their beliefs are entirely natural and inevitable. But there's plenty of academic discussion on this; from the famous "nature vs. nature" debate.

Possibly there is an animal instinct to be silent before loud or threatening authorities, though. Aggressive religious preachers and religious terrorists probably got lots of followers that way.

"Fear of the Lord" as even the Bible says, is the beginning of much of religion. Much of religion relies on silence before intimidation.