I haven’t read the other answers. I disagree. There is some evidence of a God Center in the brain, and people who claim to be big believers have this area more active, but I don’t know if it’s more active because they didn’t a life time using that part of their brain, or if it is because they are born with a predisposition. Still, that’s more of a physiological explanation, but so much a need by people to believe in God, or that they are born religious.
I would not have had a clue about a higher power or a God or religious beliefs if my parents had raised me on an island with people who are just like them. My mom even uses phrases like, “why is God punishing me,” and “oh my God,” but it never registered with me that there is an actual God that dictated rules to live by. I only really understood some people believe that in my late teens. It took into my 20’s to understand more how it really affects some people, and how they think.
I was not naturally inclined to be religious. I think a lot of people are like me.
However, some of what I do and think and believe does completely line up with religious people. Helping others, golden rule, pay it forward, we all count in the fabric of society, we need to take care of our family, etc. I even say I believe in miracles, because I define a miracle as something we cannot yet explain with our scientific knowledge.