Religious belief offers people many psychologically appealing rewards, including an afterlife, a purpose in life, a sense of meaning, moral righteousness, answers to the big questions, the protection of a loving god, and a path for growth towards an ideal (e.g., Jesus, Mohammad, etc.). These rewards may appeal to individuals with an elevated fear of death, a lack of direction or meaning, feelings of social ostracism, or anxiety about danger, failure, or uncertainty. These states of mind could be triggered by any number of experiences, including bereavement, near-death experiences, addiction, incarceration, conflict, illness, unemployment, or poverty.
