Three areas in the brain control religious belief, according to a recent scientific study reported by The Daily Mail.

Scientists asked 40 subjects, including Christians, Muslims and Jews to answer questions about God’s intervention in the world, the Almighty’s emotional state, and other religious questions.

In all 40 participants, the same brain areas, corresponding to empathy, judging other’s emotional states, and metaphorical meaning, showed increased activity.

But these same brain areas also serve a secular function — we use them to interpret other people’s feelings and intentions.

Scientists, philosophers, and theologians still debate whether religious belief is a biological or sociological matter.

Neuroscientist Jordan Grafman of the Maryland-based National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes argues that religious belief is not a “special case,” but a mindset evolved with other beliefs and cognitive dispositions, the Daily Mail Reports.

The abstract to the study is available here.

(Photo credit: dailymail.co.uk)