FACTnet recently posted a link to an article about Washington University anthropologist Pascal Boyer, who is researching religious belief across cultures in the quest to discover why it is such a universal phenomenon.  Boyer discusses cognitive processes important to human survival that also make us more open to believing in the supernatural.  He also relates research findings that indicate religious belief may be adaptive, in that it can reduce stress and create greater community cohesion. 

 
I am very curious about this research, as I can certainly remember times in my own life when subscribing to clearly outlined belief system reduced my stress.  But that stress reduction was temporary in that the beliefs I held were often in conflict with the greater world and thus were both difficult to maintain and caused strife with those around me.  As the world shrinks and more and more people are exposed to belief systems that contradict their own, I wonder if any actual adaptive edge will be eclipsed by the stress that comes from trying to reconcile an irrational belief system with contradictory evidence. 

 
Boyer Research

This book is a collection of the author’s columns written for both Skeptical Inquirer and several other publications.  Though published nearly 20 years ago, many of the topics Gardner discusses are still highly relevant in current times. His essays range over subjects including televangelism to UFOlogy. I found his discussion on the widespread fraud perpetuated by famous psychics and the persistent gullibility of paranormal researchers to be particularly informative.  Though not specifically just about the New Age, his insightful commentary on spiritual con artists of all stripes would be educational for anyone interested in the ease with which human belief can be manipulated.