Uskudar University Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, was a live broadcast guest on Beyaz TV's Nilüfer Zamanı program, hosted by Nilüfer Batur. Tarhan made striking evaluations regarding the topic of “Psychology of Belief.” Tarhan stated that the human brain has an innate infrastructure for belief and that the search for meaning is a feature unique to humans. Emphasizing that faith and science do not conflict, Tarhan said that rational belief can lead humanity to truth. Pointing out the importance of human values and the synthesis of religion and science in the education system, Tarhan stated that the order in the universe cannot be explained by coincidences and that the book of the universe should be read with the Quran.
“The search for meaning exists only in humans”
Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, who addressed the concept of “Psychology of Belief” on Beyaz TV, emphasized that the gene for seeking novelty is unique to humans. Tarhan began his speech by saying; “Studies are being conducted on the genetic algorithms and neural networks of animals, that is, the nervous systems in their brains. One of the two researchers who won the Nobel Prize in Physics last year was a geneticist, and the other was a cognitive psychologist. This psychologist is Geoffrey Hinton, also known as the father of artificial intelligence. Hinton developed artificial neural networks by modeling neural networks in the brain. The other researcher worked on genetic algorithms. The combination of these two fields formed the basis of the artificial intelligence revolution we are experiencing today. Currently, the question ‘Are there metacognitive genes in humans?’ is being investigated. Metacognition, or higher cognition. There are four candidates for these genes, and one of them has been identified. This gene is known as the novelty-seeking gene. This gene, also seen in hyperactive individuals, triggers risk-taking, entrepreneurship, and pioneering. Humans develop thanks to this gene. Animals behave the same way they did a thousand years ago, but humans are constantly looking for new ways. Another version of this metacognitive gene is related to the search for meaning. It exists only in humans. The imaginative world of a cat or dog is limited to basic needs such as eating, drinking, and shelter. However, the human imagination is different in every individual because the brain contains a meaning-seeking network, namely the default mode network. This network enables humans to seek meaning even at rest, and this feature is being investigated at a genetic level.”
“If humans cannot solve these issues, they enter an existential crisis”
Tarhan stated that humans are born with a predisposition to believe; “Our brains have an innate infrastructure related to belief, and this is unique to humans. Other living beings do not have such a structure. This shows that humans are given abilities such as free will, reason, and consciousness. These features are innately coded, not acquired later. As humans, we must ask ourselves, ‘Are we living a life consistent with our genetic makeup?’ Tolstoy is one of those who pondered death the most. His questioning of the meaning of death appears as an internal conflict in many of his works. Existential psychologist Irvin Yalom also speaks of four basic anxieties: the search for freedom, loneliness, the search for meaning, and death. If humans cannot resolve these issues, they enter an existential crisis or even depression. Faith offers solutions to these problems. However, with nearly 4,300 religions, the question arises as to which one is correct. Humans are already born with a predisposition to believe. Therefore, it is necessary to find what is reasonable. If there is a metaphysical reality in the universe, we should consider what its characteristics should be. For example, Stephen Hawking states that we are not alone in the universe and that other civilizations may exist. This points to the existence of an external will, a transcendent power, in the universe. The Holy Quran presents this reality as the belief in monotheism.”
“All scientific developments point to a conscious designer”
Tarhan, explaining the four paths to truth, said; “The first is scientific methods obtained through experiment and observation. The second is reasoning, i.e., hypothesis generation and theorization. The third is rational intuition, such as Newton's discovery of gravity or Archimedes' discovery of buoyancy. The fourth is rational belief. That is, if a belief is reasonable, it can be accepted. Otherwise, it should be questioned. I explained this in my book ‘Psychology of Wisdom’ under the heading ‘Spinoza’s fallacy’. Some say, ‘Spinoza was ahead of his time, how can you say that about him?’ but with the knowledge of his era, he saw nature as God. If he lived today, I think Spinoza would be closer to monotheism. The same applies to Darwin. If Darwin lived with today's knowledge of quantum physics and neuroscience, he would rewrite the theory of evolution. Now, all scientific developments point to a conscious but unseen designer.”
“There is a need for an educational approach that synthesizes religion and science”
Tarhan stated that parents should be careful about the media; “The current education system is mostly focused on vocational training. However, we need an educational approach that includes human values, virtue, and the search for meaning. In Japan, children aged 4-6 are taught values such as honesty, responsibility, and helpfulness. Even truths about death are conveyed to children in an appropriate manner to prevent future trauma. In our country, children are kept away from reality to prevent them from experiencing trauma. The inclination to believe is innate, just like our biological inclination to mate. However, just as marriage is a cultural institution, belief systems are also cultural. If the correct belief system is not conveyed to children, media and environmental factors fill this void. Therefore, there is a need for an educational philosophy that synthesizes both religion and science, free from marginal approaches. Culture is no longer transmitted by the family but by the media. Children have become children of the times. For this reason, parents should be more conscious about this issue.”
“Behind every cause, there is another cause”
Tarhan gave an example from Surah Al-Ikhlas in the Holy Quran; “After quantum physics, it was understood that superdeterminism prevails in the universe. This is not a single-plane causality like in Newtonian physics. Behind every cause, there is another cause. At the end of this chain, there must be a first cause beyond all causes. This primordial power points to an external and transcendent being. In the Quran, the equivalent of this understanding is seen in Surah Al-Ikhlas. The statement ‘Allah is One, He has no equal, He was not born and He did not give birth’ carries precisely this meaning. If God had been born, He could not have been God. That is, there is a beginning, and that beginning initiated everything, and then continued to maintain control. From this perspective, scientific developments make it easier to understand God.”
“We have a desire for immortality within us”
Tarhan spoke about the laws of quantum physics; “Genetically and neuronally, we have a desire for immortality within us. This is an indicator of the existence of the soul and life after death. Even Socrates, facing death, said, ‘It is important for my soul to be pure because the soul will continue to live.’ Modern science can sometimes mislead people. It creates a perception as if we achieve everything ourselves. However, we are only discovering the laws in the universe. The laws of quantum physics show us new workings. It is not possible for these laws to have formed spontaneously; they must be the product of a conscious design. If we approach events from this perspective, our faith deepens. Otherwise, knowledge turns into dry memorization.”
“Reasonable belief leads humans to truth”
Tarhan drew attention to the first command of the Quran; “Rational belief, that is, belief consistent with reason, leads humans to truth. If we look carefully at the universe, first there is information. After information, there is calculation, that is, mathematics. Then design, that is, geometry, then energy, that is, physics, then matter, that is, chemistry, and finally humans. The expression in the Quran that the universe was created in six days symbolizes this layered structure. There is a conscious design in the creation process. The first command of the Quran is ‘Read.’ Immediately after this command, the development of the embryo is described. Although it may seem unrelated at first glance, this is a call to read the book of the universe. The command ‘Read’ is not only about letters but about reading existence, nature, and creation. We only focus on written texts, but the third source that truly needs to be learned is the book of the universe.”
“We have the right to choose both good and evil”
Tarhan stated that the universe resembles a software; “When playing a game on a computer, the player kicks the ball but does not know if it will be a goal. However, the software developer knows this. Similarly, the universe is a software. First, information was created, then the software was realized. In the Quran, this is called the ‘great book.’ When human souls were created, information was present in this great book. Allah asks the souls, ‘Am I not your Lord?’ and they reply, ‘Yes.’ This points to the first day of creation. Ibn Arabi is an important thinker who grasped superdeterminism in this context. He recognized the semantic relationships beyond causes and reached the truth. The plan of destiny does not eliminate our free will. The universe is like a simulation, and we make free choices within this simulation. We have the right to choose both good and evil, and a consequence accumulates based on our choices.”
“We should look at the universe through the window of reason and faith”
Tarhan once again emphasized that faith must be reasonable; “In conclusion, we should look at the universe through the window of reason and faith. Faith must be reasonable and evaluated not only through traditional patterns but also alongside science. The universe is a system, and this system is a software written with information. A person who can read this software can better understand God. Science, the Quran, and the book of the universe should all be read together. Only in this way can a solid and unshakable faith be built.” He concluded his words.