Religion as nature or nurture
I can explain the nature-nurture debate in social sciences and provide reasons why religion can be seen as a result of both human nature and human nurture.
Religion as nature or nurture
I can explain the nature-nurture debate in social sciences and provide reasons why religion can be seen as a result of both human nature and human nurture.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The nature-nurture debate is a key theme in social sciences.
- Humans may be born predetermined to accept religious ideas.
- Socialisation, such as religious upbringing, may influence religious belief.
- Ann Taves, a scholar, argues humans naturally ask questions which religious and non-religious worldviews can answer.
Keywords
Nature - the biological and genetic aspects of a person that they are born with
Nurture - the influence of learning such as upbringing and environment on a person's development
predetermined - something which is decided in advance and not down to chance
Religious upbringing - the way that parents and carers may raise children to be part of a religion
socialisation - the process beginning in childhood where a person learns how to fit in with their society’s rules and behaviours
Common misconception
That there is a gene or section of the brain responsible for religious belief.
Genetics and the function of the brain may play a significant part in religious belief, but there is no single gene or area of the brain responsible for this.
Equipment
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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