The evidence from the social sciences suggests that people hold religious beliefs as superficial opinions which help them to manage anxiety. When they grow up in safe living conditions, they lose interest in religion, even in liberal societies where people can freely practice whatever religion they want consistent with public order. Psychologist Nigel Barber discusses this phenomenon in his ebook, Why Atheism Will Replace Religion: The triumph of earthly pleasures over pie in the sky:
The evidence from the social sciences suggests that people hold religious beliefs as superficial opinions which help them to manage anxiety. When they grow up in safe living conditions, they lose interest in religion, even in liberal societies where people can freely practice whatever religion they want consistent with public order. Psychologist Nigel Barber discusses this phenomenon in his ebook, Why Atheism Will Replace Religion: The triumph of earthly pleasures over pie in the sky:
http://www.amazon.com/Atheism-Will-Replace-Religion-ebook/dp/B00886ZSJ6
Barber’s blog on the website of Psychology Today:
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-human-beast