London Thinks - Why Do We Believe?

Whether it's Jesus-in-a-tortilla or Xenu, being frightened of walking under a ladder or God, we humans believe in some unusual things.
London Thinks has gathered experts in psychology, religion and cults to explore the idea of belief. Why do we believe the things we do? Are we genetically programmed to believe in the supernatural, or is belief socially imposed upon us from a young age? Were Abrahamic religious texts always considered to be the word of God or is religious literalism a modern invention? Is belief in the supernatural really dangerous to our society or are those skeptic types worried about nothing? Can belief in the supernatural be a good thing? Is anyone susceptible to being brainwashed or bamboozled by cult leaders or charlatans?

Samira Ahmed
Prof Francesca Stavrakopoulou
Prof Richard Wiseman
Alice Herron
Prof Bruce Hood

Samira Ahmed chairs as our panelists discuss these ideas and more in our first London Thinks of 2016.

Francesca Stavrakopoulou is Professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Religion in the University of Exeter's Department of Theology and Religion. The main focus of her research is religion and ideology in the cultures giving rise to the biblical texts. She is also noted for her media roles: presenting a three-part television series on the BBC, Bible's Buried Secrets, and for contributions to numerous television and radio documentaries about religion. She also appears regularly on BBC 1's flagship religion and ethics debate programmes The Big Questions and Sunday Morning Live. She describes herself as "an atheist with huge respect for religion" and regards her work as "a branch of history like any other".

Prof Richard Wiseman is based at the University of Hertfordshire, where he holds Britain's only Chair in the Public Understanding of Psychology. He has gained an international reputation for research into unusual areas of psychology, including luck, deception, and the science of self-help.