Desire to believe in God arises from a basic personal need. A person either feels such a need or does not. It is not possible to convince someone who claims not to feel such a need that it is in fact there. But it may be argued that this neediness is a universal human condition, and those who do not feel it are actually desensitized to it, either by the “things” and distractions of life, or by the cares with which his or her life is pulled down. Fanaticism is another response to neediness, substituting aggression for confidence. Loving affirmation from one’s parents, family and friends may make experiencing this neediness less painful, but the desire to be grounded in some eternal spiritual experience is universal in human history, the wellspring of culture and religion, and, with them, of civilization.
Nick Hilton - Reflections 