Randomness, loneliness, and bereavement each causally amplify religious belief

Evidence

Death might be the ultimate existential worry, but it is not the only one. Fears of chaos and loneliness appear to have the same religion-promoting effect. Earlier, I discussed work by Aaron Kay and his colleagues, who showed that, like reminders of death, incidental reminders of randomness also amplify belief in God. Bastiaan Rutjens and colleagues found that the same feelings of randomness make staunchly secular Dutch participants gravitate towards arguments for intelligent design (a more subtle creationist stance cloaked in scientific jargon). And when feelings of loneliness are aroused, people report a stronger belief in a personal God. It appears that this spike in religious conviction following distress has palliative effects. One study found that religiosity spikes during bereavement, and moreover, those who turned to religion more experienced less grief later. — Norenzayan, Ara, Big gods - how religion transformed…, 618