The fact that lowering the reaction of part of the brain that responds to perceived threat lessens belief in God confirms what I have thought for many years. That threats of poverty, famine, disease, political tyrants and eventual death have driven the belief in God and the need for religion.
Some assert that religion has only ever been about abusive religious leaders deceiving the masses for monetary gain. Whereas of course this is partly true this evidence suggests people have invented and clung onto religions because of the threatening world they have had to cope with for thousands of years.
Which is also why I don't think we can get rid of religion until people have their basic needs filled. The need for food, safety, medicine, politically stable countries.
