clarsct
27th August 2005, 06:34 AM
From another thread I created:
Originally posted by clarsct
I was browsing my new edition of PopSci, and ran across a little tidbit from the National Cancer Institute, which has isolated a gene called VMAT2. It seems that this gene controls, or is involved in, the transportation of monoamine. People with a variation of this gene are more likely to report having had a trancendental experience.
The other implication I got was that a pill could be made to make people believe in God. Huh. But I'll create a new thread for that discussion.
Ok, now for the other question. A pill that can make you believe in God. I had rather thought that one to do the opposite would be better, but then again, I am atheist.
At any rate, what do we make of this? Is God reduced to a pill bottle? I could see someone like those fine folks at the Lakewood Church putting some of this in the communion wine. Would this be legal? After all, we allow American Indians the right to use peyote cacti in their religious ceremonies. Would this be akin to spiking someone's drink, or is it ok to create a trancendental experience in someone if it "brings them closer to God."
On the other hand, I could see a communist country wanting just the opposite. A daily dose to prevent trancendental experiences. Would this be good or bad? (If you've seen the movie "Equilibrium", then you'll see what I'm envisioning, to a degree.)
To the Xians out there: Could you believe in a God that can be shown to come about through biochemistry?
Interesting questions. Any thoughts out there?
Originally posted by clarsct
I was browsing my new edition of PopSci, and ran across a little tidbit from the National Cancer Institute, which has isolated a gene called VMAT2. It seems that this gene controls, or is involved in, the transportation of monoamine. People with a variation of this gene are more likely to report having had a trancendental experience.
The other implication I got was that a pill could be made to make people believe in God. Huh. But I'll create a new thread for that discussion.
Ok, now for the other question. A pill that can make you believe in God. I had rather thought that one to do the opposite would be better, but then again, I am atheist.
At any rate, what do we make of this? Is God reduced to a pill bottle? I could see someone like those fine folks at the Lakewood Church putting some of this in the communion wine. Would this be legal? After all, we allow American Indians the right to use peyote cacti in their religious ceremonies. Would this be akin to spiking someone's drink, or is it ok to create a trancendental experience in someone if it "brings them closer to God."
On the other hand, I could see a communist country wanting just the opposite. A daily dose to prevent trancendental experiences. Would this be good or bad? (If you've seen the movie "Equilibrium", then you'll see what I'm envisioning, to a degree.)
To the Xians out there: Could you believe in a God that can be shown to come about through biochemistry?
Interesting questions. Any thoughts out there?