Tag: Look-alike

A new study from the University of North Carolina finds that politics play a role in how believers picture the divine, an image also influenced by their own race and appearance. From that, a composite image arose showing how they see their creator. Not a white beard in sight. The God of American Christians appeared "kinder and more approachable" than the stern sage of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, researchers said. “Past research shows that conservatives are more motivated than liberals to live in a well-ordered society, one that would be best regulated by a powerful God. On the other hand, liberals are more motivated to live in a tolerant society, which would be better regulated by a loving God.” (Photo: Joshua Conrad Jackson , Neil Hester, Kurt Gray / PLoS One) Beyond politics, participants tended to picture God as a lot like them. Older people saw an older God. African-Americans saw God as slightly more African-American. One exception: Both men and women perceived God as equally masculine. The results largely align with egocentric bias, our ability to overestimate how much others — God included — are just like us, authors said.