Grand Nature Scenes Make Some People Believe in Supernatural Beings

A study from researchers at Claremont McKenna College has found that when people see natural wonders like waterfalls, or the Grand Canyon, they also briefly suspend their disbelief in supernatural beings like demons and angels.

A study from researchers at Claremont McKenna College has found that when people see natural wonders like waterfalls, or the Grand Canyon, they also briefly suspend their disbelief in supernatural beings like angels and demons.

Results of the study are based on the responses of subjects from several experiments in which they watched different videos and were then asked a series of questions including whether or not they believe in God, miracles demons or angels.

More people who watched footage from the BBC series Planet Earth featuring majestic landscapes and outer space responded that they did believe in these supernatural phenomenon than subjects who watched BBC series Walk on the Wide Side or a news interview from 1959.

Subjects were also reportedly more likely to believe in supernatural beings of a negative connotation like demons or ghosts.

Piercarlo Valdesolo, lead author of the report said: "When you feel uncertain, you start to want to try to explain the world around you. When we're in the presence of something big and powerful, we try to explain it by believing in these powers."

The follow up research will study physical postures connected with different religions rituals and how they might relates to the feeling of awe and belief in a higher power.