The main psychological driving force for belief in God=parental figure

As we get older, our parents are no longer in control of what we do. There's a certain security when they are that a child has. This control provides structure. When there's a book (like the bible that I'm using as an example, because it's the only religious book that I'm slightly familiar with) that has a list of rules that must to be followed, or there will be consequences, then isn't this like a mother telling a child "You just wait until your father gets home!" This was a theory of Freud's that was probably explained a lot more eloquently by him, but it makes so much sense. Haven't you ever felt a need for some outside authority being in charge? It's a strange thing the brain does, and I can't explain it.



There are other reasons, like not wanting to go to hell, or fear of being unconscious forever, but I think these reasons usually are over emphasized. There's no moral authority that governs an atheist's life: He or she may choose their actions, because it makes them feel better, or because they're biologically hard wired to be kind. Maybe they don't want to be separated from the herd, but this isn't good enough for some people. They need Mom or Dad (God) telling them what to do.

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