Part 3/8:
The Role of Supernatural and Religious Beliefs
To bridge this existential gap, humans have historically embraced beliefs that are, by strict scientific standards, irrational or supernatural. These beliefs—whether religious doctrines, mythologies, or paranormal notions—function as narratives that give life structure. They are counterfactual, meaning they aren’t necessarily grounded in empirical evidence, yet they serve important psychological and social functions.