A generalized anthropomorphism tendency does not predict belief in God among Christians

Evidence

7. Willard and Norenzayan, in press. Interestingly, the tendency to project human traits onto nature—anthropomorphism—was not associated with belief, possibly because this tendency is suppressed in Christianity. This finding moderates the idea, developed by Stewart Guthrie and others, that religious thinking is rooted in anthropomorphism; it is right in the sense that believers anthropomorphize spirits and gods. It is not necessarily true, however, that the tendency to “see human” everywhere increases the odds of believing in God, at least not among Christians. — Norenzayan, Ara, Big gods - how religion transformed…, 666

Categorization

Category: Contrarian or Surprising Claims

• QUESTION: If anthropomorphism per se doesn’t predict belief, what does? The finding points to domain-specific supernatural-agent cognition rather than a general ‘see human everywhere’ bias — worth chasing the mechanism.

Related

• Anthropomorphism is selective and conditional, not automatic and promiscuous. (similarity 0.86)
• Believing in God is inseparable from anthropomorphizing God as a personlike mind (similarity 0.83)
• Anthropomorphism is conditional and triggered, not automatic and promiscuous (similarity 0.82)
• Religious belief requires intuitive mentalizing about a personal God (similarity 0.79)