Amazing Believing Apostates

I watched a video discussing why some people are raised religious and lose their faith as adults, while others are raised secular and find faith later on. The video made some interesting contrasts. The videos states that the path to apostasy is lonely and somber. The path to faith is communal and hopeful. The path to apostasy is based from intellect, while the path to faith comes from emotions.

I can see what they're saying. While I don't think people of faith are less intelligent that those without (there are very intelligent religious scholars), most religious systems are based on doctrines and dogmas that are beyond question. If someone is curious and wants to ask forbidden questions and draw different conclusions, the only way they can do that is outside the religious organization.

Where I think intelligent people have a hard time is when they need to put down the calculator of facts and intellect and pick up the brush of intuition and imagination. Science is a cold, sterile pursuit that works best stripped away from emotional bias. But emotions are an integral part of the human experience. Sometimes it's important to "go with your gut," despite what your intellect may be saying.

The most helpful religions would seem to make space for both sides of the human experience. They would create places of unquestioning belonging and love while making space for questions of doctrine and dogma. The expressions of both logic and beauty. A place that can make room for the "either/or" and the "both/and".