Developmental Psychology
The study of human development reveals innate capacities for language, morality, and religious thought—suggesting we are designed for truth, goodness, and relationship with God.
Natural Religion
Research shows children are 'intuitive theists'—naturally inclined toward religious belief. This is not indoctrination but the natural development of human cognition.
Justin Barrett's research demonstrates that children naturally see purpose in nature, attribute events to agents, and believe in continued existence after death. Atheism, not theism, is the unnatural position that requires cultural reinforcement.
- Teleological Thinking: Children naturally see purpose in nature—'rocks are for animals to scratch on.' This 'promiscuous teleology' reflects intuitive design thinking.
- Agent Detection: Children readily attribute events to intentional agents. The Hyperactive Agency Detection Device (HADD) may be designed to detect the divine Agent.
- Afterlife Beliefs: Children intuitively believe in continued existence after death. They distinguish between biological death and psychological continuity. Soul beliefs are natural.
- Creationism: Children naturally believe that living things were created for a purpose. Evolutionary thinking is counterintuitive and requires explicit teaching.
The Sensus Divinitatis
Developmental findings support theistic anthropology. Calvin's 'sensus divinitatis'—the innate sense of divinity—is confirmed by cognitive science of religion.
If God exists and wants to be known, we would expect humans to have natural cognitive tendencies toward theism. This is exactly what developmental psychology reveals. We are made for relationship with God.
- Sensus Divinitatis: Calvin's 'sense of divinity' is confirmed—humans are naturally oriented toward God. Theism is the default; atheism requires cultural effort.
- Moral Nativism: Innate moral sense suggests divine moral law written on hearts. We are born knowing the difference between right and wrong.
- Design for Relationship: Human development reveals we are made for relationship—with others and with God. Attachment theory shows our deep need for secure relationship.
- Proper Function: If our cognitive faculties are designed by God, they function properly when they lead us to truth—including truth about God.