A timely response to the new atheists who argue that religious belief is unnatural or that religious values are inappropriate to pass on to the next generation imam feisal abdul rauf chairman cordoba initiative and author of moving the mountain born believers will challenge the anti religion camp with barretts careful science . Born believers summarizes some findings of contemporary cognitive and evolutionary psychology that suggest humans have an instinct for religion barrett hypothesizes this instinct is based in something like the hypothetical language acquisition device emerging in infancy and developing in children apart from any cultural influences but declining in power with age. Born believers the science of childrens religious belief from a noted developmental psychologist and anthropologist at oxford university this fascinating theory about the value of religious faith finds that we are all predisposed to believe in god from birth from a noted developmental psychologist and anthropologist at oxford university this . Born believers will challenge the anti religion camp with barretts careful science barretts analysis shows that infants have a natural inclination to believe in a supreme being and that their subsequent beliefs cannot be explained as the sole result of indoctrination or brainwashing by heavy handed adults. 2013 born believers the science of childrens religious belief religion brain behavior vol 3 no 3 pp 254 256