Why do humans possess a universal sense of wonder?

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 9 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: If humans are as advanced as we claim, why does our world remain so fractured? Oxford theologian Alister McGrath suggests the answer lies in a fundamental human trait: a deep-seated capacity for wonder. He argues that this isn't just a poetic feeling, but a core mechanism of our existence.

Alister McGrath, a prominent theologian and professor at the University of Oxford, explores the tension between human self-perception and the reality of our destructive capabilities. While humans often hold generous views of their own greatness, they simultaneously produce massive scientific advances for destructive purposes. This paradox raises critical questions about whether our tendency toward violence is an evolutionary byproduct or a failure of our current understanding of human origins.

A central point of McGrath's inquiry is the friction between Darwinian theory and modern humanism. He notes that many humanists have struggled to reconcile the idea that humans are essentially like other animals with their own unique status. This tension is compounded by the fact that science—often viewed as a path to atheism—actually relies on a foundation of wonder. McGrath argues that naturalism alone is insufficient to explain why humans across cultures feel a universal need to question the nature and purpose of the world.

McGrath’s own intellectual journey informs this perspective. Having moved from a belief that science and religion were mutually exclusive to a 'purely intellectual conversion' to Christianity, he identifies wonder as the bridge between the two. He posits that wonder undergirds the scientific impulse to explore the natural world and simultaneously lies at the heart of Christian worship. By recognizing wonder as a fundamental human feature, McGrath suggests we can better understand our deepest questions about why we are here and why it matters.

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