Psychiatrist and President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan was a live guest on the program Nilüfer Zamanı, hosted by Nilufer Batur on Beyaz TV. Prof. Tarhan shared insightful remarks on the topic of "Psychology of Faith," emphasizing that the human brain is innately wired for belief and that the pursuit of meaning is a trait unique to human beings. He highlighted that faith does not contradict science and that rational belief can guide a person toward truth. Stressing the need for integrating human values and a religion-science synthesis in the education system, he argued that the order in the universe cannot be explained by coincidence and that the book of the universe should be read in parallel with the Qur'an.
"The Search for Meaning Exists Only in Humans"
Delving into the concept of the "Psychology of Faith," Prof. Tarhan emphasized that the gene for seeking novelty is unique to humans. "There are studies on the genetic algorithms and neural networks of animals, that is, their brain's nerve systems. Last year, the Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to two researchers: one a geneticist, the other a cognitive psychologist known as Geoffrey Hinton, considered the father of artificial intelligence. Hinton modeled neural networks in the brain to develop artificial neural networks. The other worked on genetic algorithms. The fusion of these two fields laid the foundation for today's AI revolution."
"Currently, the question 'Are there metacognitive genes in humans?' is under investigation. Metacognition means higher-order thinking. There are four candidate genes; one has already been identified, that is, the novelty-seeking gene. Found in hyperactive individuals, it promotes risk-taking, entrepreneurship, and pioneering behavior. Humans develop through this gene. Unlike animals that behave the same for millennia, humans constantly seek new ways. Another variant of this gene relates to the search for meaning, that is, a trait found only in humans. A cat or dog dreams only of food, drink, and shelter. Human imagination, however, varies individually, driven by the brain's default mode network. This network facilitates the search for meaning even in a resting state and is being studied at the genetic level."
"Without Resolving These Issues, Humans Face Existential Crisis"
Tarhan explained that humans are born with an infrastructure for belief: "Only humans have this system. Other creatures lack such a structure, indicating that humans are endowed with free will, intellect, and consciousness. These traits are innate, not acquired. We must ask ourselves: 'Are we living a life aligned with our genetic makeup?' Tolstoy was one of the most contemplative minds on death, which manifested as internal conflict in his works. Existential psychologist Irvin Yalom identifies four fundamental anxieties: freedom, loneliness, search for meaning, and death. If humans fail to address these, they may experience existential crisis and depression. Faith offers solutions, but with around 4,300 religions globally, the question arises: which one is true? Since humans are naturally predisposed to belief, one must seek the most rational path."
"If a metaphysical reality exists in the universe, what should its characteristics be? Stephen Hawking stated that we are not alone in the universe and that other civilizations could exist. This implies a transcendent external will. The Qur'an defines this as the belief in Tawheed (Oneness of God)."
"Scientific Developments Point to a Conscious Designer"
Tarhan described four paths to truth: "First, the empirical method, which is experiment and observation. Second, reasoning, which is hypothesis generation and theorizing. Third, rational intuition, as in Newton's discovery of gravity or Archimedes' principle. Fourth, rational belief, that is, faith that is intellectually valid and should otherwise be questioned. In my book Psychology of Wisdom, I discuss this under 'Spinoza's Fallacy.' Some say, 'Spinoza was ahead of his time; how can you critique him?' But he equated nature with God based on the knowledge of his era. Had he lived today, I believe he would have leaned toward Tawheed. The same applies to Darwin. With current insights from quantum physics and neuroscience, Darwin would have revised evolution theory. Today, all scientific progress points to an unseen yet conscious designer."
"We Need an Education System that Synthesizes Faith and Science"
Tarhan emphasized that parents should be cautious about media exposure: "Today's education system is focused mainly on vocational skills. What we need is an approach that incorporates human values, virtues, and the search for meaning. In Japan, children aged 4-6 are taught honesty, responsibility, and compassion. Even death is explained to them in age-appropriate ways to prevent future trauma. In our culture, however, children are often shielded from reality to avoid trauma. Belief is an innate tendency, like our biological drive for pairing. Religion is a cultural construct, just like marriage. If children are not exposed to sound belief systems, media and external factors will fill the void. Thus, we need an educational philosophy that synthesizes both religion and science, avoiding extreme ideologies."
"Every Cause Has a Prior Cause"
Citing Surah Al-Ikhlas from the Qur'an, Tarhan said: "Post-quantum physics, it has become evident that the universe operates under superdeterminism, but not the linear causality of Newtonian physics. Every cause is linked to a previous cause, leading to an initial cause beyond all causality. This primal force signifies a transcendent entity, as described in Surah Al-Ikhlas: 'He is One. He begets not, nor is He begotten. And there is none like unto Him.' If God had been born, He could not be God. There is a beginning that initiated everything and continues to govern it. From this perspective, scientific advancements help us understand God more deeply."
"We Possess an Innate Desire for Immortality"
Discussing the laws of quantum physics, Tarhan said: "Genetically and neurologically, we harbor a desire for immortality, which supports the notion of the soul and life after death. Even Socrates stated that having a pure soul matters because the soul continues to live. Modern science can be misleading, making it seem like humans accomplish everything independently. In truth, we merely discover the universe's laws. The laws revealed by quantum physics point to new mechanisms that couldn't have formed spontaneously; they must be the product of conscious design. This perspective deepens faith; otherwise, knowledge becomes mere rote learning."
“Rational Faith Leads to Truth”
Drawing attention to the first command in the Qur'an, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said:
"Rational faith, which is faith in harmony with reason, leads a person to truth. If we observe the universe carefully, we see that information comes first. After information comes computation, or mathematics. Then comes design, or geometry, followed by energy, or physics, then matter, which is chemistry, and finally, humanity. The Qur'anic reference to the creation of the universe in six days symbolizes this layered structure. The process of creation contains intentional design. The first command in the Qur’an is 'Read.' Immediately after that, the development of the embryo is described. At first glance, these may seem unrelated, but in fact, it is a call to read the book of the universe. The command 'Read' is not limited to reading letters, and it is about reading existence, nature, and creation. We tend to focus only on written texts, but the true source of knowledge also includes the third book: the book of the universe."
“We Have the Freedom to Choose Good or Evil”
Tarhan likened the universe to software: "When we play a video game, the player can kick the ball, but cannot know whether it will score a goal, and only the one who wrote the software knows. Similarly, the universe is a kind of software. Information was created first, followed by the coding of this software. In the Qur’an, this is referred to as the 'Great Book.' When human souls were created, this knowledge already existed in that book. God asks the souls, 'Am I not your Lord?' and they respond, 'Yes.' This points to the day of primordial creation. Ibn Arabi is one of the major thinkers who grasped this concept of super-determinism. He understood the deeper meanings behind causes and reached the truth. The concept of destiny does not negate our free will. The universe is like a simulation, and within it, we are free to make our own choices. We have the right to choose both good and evil, and the accumulation of our choices forms the basis of our moral and spiritual development."
“We Must View the Universe Through the Lenses of Reason and Faith”
Emphasizing once again that faith must be compatible with reason, Tarhan concluded:
"In the end, we must look at the universe through the lenses of both reason and faith. Faith should be in harmony with reason, and it should not be based solely on traditional dogma, but also be evaluated in light of science. The cosmos is a system, and this system is a kind of software written with knowledge. A person who can read this software can understand God more deeply. Science, the Qur’an, and the book of the universe, and all three must be studied together. Only then can a firm and unshakable faith be
Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)