London, England - Humans are naturally inclined to believe in gods and an afterlife, according to a major three-year study.
The £1.9 million international project, led by Oxford University academics, sought to discover whether beliefs in gods and an afterlife were learned or simply part of human nature.
As part of the study, conducted in 20 countries, researchers found that people who hold religious beliefs might be more likely to co-operate as part of societies.
The project, involving 57 researchers who completed more than 40 studies, found that human thought was 'rooted' to religious concepts.
One of the studies, by Emily Reed Burdett and Dr Justin Barrett from Oxford University, suggested that children under the age of five found it easier to believe in 'superhuman properties' and were readily able to think religiously.
In one test, youngsters were asked whether their mother would know the contents of a closed box.
Three-year-olds appeared to believe that their mother would always know the contents.
However, by the time they got to four, children started to understand that their mothers were not all-seeing and all-knowing, the study found.
Separate experiments in China and Belfast found that people from a variety of cultures believed that some part of their mind, soul or spirit lives on after death.
Professor Roger Trigg, from Oxford University and the project's co-director, said: 'This project suggests that religion is not just something for a peculiar few to do on Sundays instead of playing golf.
'We have gathered a body of evidence that suggests that religion is a common fact of human nature across different societies.
'Attempts to suppress religion are likely to be short-lived as human thought seems to be rooted to religious concepts, such as the existence of supernatural agents or gods, and the possibility of an afterlife or pre-life.
‘There is quite a drive to think that religion is private. It isn't just a quirky interest of a few, it's basic human nature.
‘This shows that it's much more universal, prevalent, and deep-rooted. It's got to be reckoned with. You can't just pretend it isn't there.’
Dr Barrett, from Oxford University's Centre for Anthropology and Mind, said: 'This project does not set out to prove God or gods exist.
'Just because we find it easier to think in a particular way does not mean that it is true in fact.'
The findings are due to be published in two books by Dr Barrett in Cognitive Science, Religion And Theology and Born Believers: The Science Of Childhood Religion.
Other research from Tsinghua University in China and The Queen's University, Belfast, suggested cultural differences are not a barrier to a belief that some part of the soul or spirit lives on after death.