A 2000 study has pinpointed the key psychological difference between religious and non-religious people: Independence.

It's a person's desire for independence, says Steven Reiss, co-author of the study and a professor of psychology and psychiatry at Ohio State University.

Reiss asked 558 people -- college students and professionals -- to rate themselves as very, somewhat or not religious. Then each subject took a test that measures differences in 15 fundamental desires and goals -- everything from acceptance to vengeance.

Looking at the 15 fundamental motivators, researchers found the most significant divergence between the religious and the non-religious was the urge for independence.

"Religious people had a low score for independence," Reiss said. They "seek strength by relying on the help of others, including God." On the other hand, "People who score high on independence want to make their own decisions. They don't normally enjoy having to rely on other people," Reiss said, and may "dislike being in need of anyone, even God."

Reiss says the results of the study, published in the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, dispute Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura's characterization of organized religion as a crutch for "weak-minded people." The professor says religious people "had average scores for power, implying that they do not seek submission to leaders."

The results showed that religious people were more motivated by honor and by the desire for family. They also showed a lower desire for vengeance and sex [1].

Reiss noted that the profiles are based on motivations, not actions. He says, "Our findings pertain to how people would like to behave, what motivates them, and not how they actually behave."