Is religion a consolation worth having?
My idea of bliss is a Sunday walk that takes in first some English countryside, and second a pleasant medieval church, with some glass or woodwork or monuments. I once even wrote a piece, published in the Larkin journal, about...
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The psychology behind the leap of faith: Reminders of God increase risk taking, even among atheists
New research published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science has found that being exposed to the word God can increase risk-taking behaviors in some situations, even among those who don't believe in the divine creator. "Religion has great...
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Can faith in science have similar psychological benefits to faith in religion?
Research has shown that religious beliefs offer their adherents a variety of psychological benefits: from coping with stress to increasing self-control to promoting pro-social behaviors. But religious belief is on the decline in the Western world. What's an atheist to...
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Implacable optimism: Steven Pinker on human nature, violence, feminism and religion
Oliver Burkeman explores human nature, violence, feminism and religion with one of the world’s most controversial cognitive scientists. Can he dent Steven Pinker’s optimism? In the week that I interview the cognitive psychologist and bestselling author Steven Pinker in his...
Read moreDetailsGod and religion direct prosocial behavior towards different groups
Research published in the November issue of the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin has demonstrated that religion and God have different and distinct effects on prosocial behavior.
Read moreDetailsParents, religion guard against college drinking
Religious college students report less alcohol use than their classmates – and the reason may have to do with how their parents handle stress, according to new research by a Michigan State University scholar.
Read moreDetailsAnalysis explores how religion and ethnicity shape the Asian-American vote
As the nation's fastest-growing immigrant group, Asian Americans are likely to be a key constituency in the 2012 presidential election, but this community is far from a monolithic voting bloc, says Russell Jeung, associate professor of Asian American studies at...
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