Diverse Supernatural Portfolios: Certitude, Exclusivity, and the Curvilinear Relationship Between Religiosity and Paranormal Beliefs
Abstract
Studies have attempted to understand the association between more conventional supernatural (religious) beliefs and practices and less conventional “paranormal” supernatural beliefs. Some have posited that the two comprise incompatible cultural spheres and belief systems, while others have argued that supernatural religious beliefs are “small steps” toward less conventional paranormal views (such as belief in astrology and telekinesis). We build upon recent scholarship outlining a more nuanced, nonlinear relationship between religiosity and paranormal beliefs by identifying a specific niche of believers who are particularly likely to dabble in unconventional supernatural beliefs. Strong believers in the paranormal tend to be characterized by a nonexclusive spiritualist worldview, as opposed to materialist or exclusive religious outlooks. Paranormal believers tend to be characterized by moderate levels of religious belief and practice, and low levels of ideological exclusivity. In general, the relationship between more conventional religiosity and paranormal beliefs is best conceptualized as curvilinear.
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Rates of belief in paranormal and otherwise supramundane but non-religious phenomena such as ghosts, UFOs and other mythical creatures remain as high as ever.
“Rather, rates of belief in paranormal and otherwise supramundane but non-religious phenomena such as ghosts, UFOs and other mythical creatures remain as high as ever (Baker and Draper 2010; Persinger 2001; Willard and Norenzayan 2013).”
From Cultural Evolution of Religion, Spirituality and Ritual: Impacts On Human Cooperation (2024) · cites this paper as Baker and Draper 2010
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Baker, J. O., & Draper, S.
- Affiliations
- East Tennessee State University (US)
- Baylor University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Baker, Joseph O.
- Venue
- Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2010-09-01
- Volume
- 49
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 413-424
- ISSN
- 0021-8294 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2043293048
- Cited by
- 43
- References
- 39
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 5 · 2018: 1 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 3.94
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion (publishedVersion)
- Digital Commons - East Tennessee State University (East Tennessee State University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Religious Studies and Spiritual Practices
- Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
- Keywords
- supernatural beliefs, religiosity, spiritualism, curvilinear relationship, astrology, telekinesis, materialism, belief systems
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