On this June 2024 episode of the Hidden Brain podcast, psychologist Ara Norenzayan explains how religious beliefs are intimately connected to the way our brains work, and how we can use this knowledge to find more meaning in our lives.

Is there a 'god-shaped hole' in the life of every human being?

The human brain is predisposed to finding patterns, ascribing intentionality, and looking for meaning. Religious systems fit well into the way our minds work.

In an increasingly nonreligious world, lessons from ancient religions can point the way towards helping us find meaning in our secular lives.

Ara Norenzayan is a professor and psychologist at the University of British Columbia who studies how the features of the brain are tied to religious belief.

The Hidden Brain podcast explores the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior. On this June 2024 episode, Norenzayan joins host Shankar Vedantam to examine the way the brain influences religious belief, and vice versa.