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2nd March 2005, 04:17 AM

I found this great article I'd like to share on the subject of religion and neuroscience in the UK's The Guardian.

It begins:
"Religion may be a survival mechanism. So are we born to believe?" I've seen similar writings addressing this view, but none as compelling as this one.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/featu...423450,00.html

Sherry Austin.

Bodhi Dharma Zen · 2nd March 2005, 06:53 AM

Good article, thanks.

Quote:

As neuroscientists unpick the biological mechanisms behind religious experience, others are considering what to do with the information. At Laurentian University, Todd Murphy and Michael Persinger are developing devices they think can stimulate parts of the brain to enhance spiritual experiences. Others see the possibility for drugs designed to boost spirituality.

Amazing!

AWPrime · 2nd March 2005, 06:57 AM

Can they find a way to cure it?

hammegk · 2nd March 2005, 07:21 AM

A number of methods exist. See Stalin/Hitler/Pol Pot etal.

maddafinga · 2nd March 2005, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hammegk
A number of methods exist. See Stalin/Hitler/Pol Pot etal.

Hitler was a Catholic, http://www.nobeliefs.com/nazis.htm
Stalin went to Eastern Orthodox seminary to become a priest, but decided against it as a career. I don't really know about Pol Pot, I'd have to look that one up.

hammegk · 2nd March 2005, 01:32 PM

Could be. Their respective takes on religion and/or spirituality didn't overcome their absolute power corrupts absolutely tendency.

Would you argue that spirituality in any sense was at the core of their actions?

Yahweh · 2nd March 2005, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hammegk
Could be. Their respective takes on religion and/or spirituality didn't overcome their absolute power corrupts absolutely tendency.

Would you argue that spirituality in any sense was at the core of their actions?

Hitler invoked the card of religion quite often throughout some of his writings - perhaps his actions is motivated by spirituality in the same sense that W's actions are motivated by spirituality?

Yahweh · 2nd March 2005, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SherryA
I found this great article I'd like to share on the subject of religion and neuroscience in the UK's The Guardian.

It begins:
"Religion may be a survival mechanism. So are we born to believe?" I've seen similar writings addressing this view, but none as compelling as this one.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/featu...423450,00.html

Sherry Austin.

I've heard of these "god modules" in the brain for quite some time now, I think it is a little spurious to conclude that humans have evolved to be religious.

From what I've read elsewhere, humans are highly anthromorphic and readily form associations (even if the associations arent fully comprehendable). Most people had stuffed animal when they were very young, and for a while the stuffed animal seemed fully alive - or sometimes children create anthromorphic explanations for the weather (i.e. it rains when the angels are crying, or a crescent moon looks like a fingernail), etc.

Its really nothing special, its only humans going through their anthromorphic stage, and eventually the stage is grown out of. However, with organized religion, some anthromorphic ideas are reinforced over and over, which (for a lack of better words) "imprints" itself in the character of a person.

I found the Guardian article to be very interesting, but it seems to me that spirituality isnt something people are born with or anything that has evolved, but probably something that is learned.

AWPrime · 3rd March 2005, 01:00 AM

Well there is another threory that suggests that it was a left over, from the time that everyone had to obey the head-ape.

2nd March 2005, 04:17 AM	#1
SherryA Guest Posts: n/a	Religion and Neuroscience I found this great article I'd like to share on the subject of religion and neuroscience in the UK's The Guardian. It begins: "Religion may be a survival mechanism. So are we born to believe?" I've seen similar writings addressing this view, but none as compelling as this one. http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/featu...423450,00.html Sherry Austin.
SherryA Guest Posts: n/a

2nd March 2005, 06:53 AM	#2
Bodhi Dharma Zen Advaitin Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Here Posts: 3,861	Good article, thanks. Quote: As neuroscientists unpick the biological mechanisms behind religious experience, others are considering what to do with the information. At Laurentian University, Todd Murphy and Michael Persinger are developing devices they think can stimulate parts of the brain to enhance spiritual experiences. Others see the possibility for drugs designed to boost spirituality. Amazing!
	__________________ Im too busy living, why waste my time believing?

2nd March 2005, 06:57 AM	#3
AWPrime Master Poster Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 2,929	Can they find a way to cure it?
AWPrime Master Poster Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 2,929	__________________ Sir Arthur C. Clarke - "Any sufficiently advanced technology, to the uninformed observer, is indistinguishable from magic." c4ts - "Jesus loves the little children, Nice and fat and honey roasted..." Lancastic = Demonstrative of outstanding personal effort in the exposing of frauds. Rob Lister - "The enemy of my enemy probably tastes yummy. "

2nd March 2005, 07:21 AM	#4
hammegk Banned Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 8,422	A number of methods exist. See Stalin/Hitler/Pol Pot etal.
hammegk Banned Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 8,422

2nd March 2005, 12:48 PM	#5
maddafinga Scholar Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 61	Quote: Originally posted by hammegk A number of methods exist. See Stalin/Hitler/Pol Pot etal. Hitler was a Catholic, http://www.nobeliefs.com/nazis.htm Stalin went to Eastern Orthodox seminary to become a priest, but decided against it as a career. I don't really know about Pol Pot, I'd have to look that one up.
maddafinga Scholar Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 61

2nd March 2005, 01:32 PM	#6
hammegk Banned Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 8,422	Could be. Their respective takes on religion and/or spirituality didn't overcome their absolute power corrupts absolutely tendency. Would you argue that spirituality in any sense was at the core of their actions?
hammegk Banned Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 8,422

2nd March 2005, 02:19 PM	#7
Yahweh Ayay ashay ayay Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 9,029	Quote: Originally posted by hammegk Could be. Their respective takes on religion and/or spirituality didn't overcome their absolute power corrupts absolutely tendency. Would you argue that spirituality in any sense was at the core of their actions? Hitler invoked the card of religion quite often throughout some of his writings - perhaps his actions is motivated by spirituality in the same sense that W's actions are motivated by spirituality?
Yahweh Ayay ashay ayay Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 9,029

2nd March 2005, 02:31 PM	#8
Yahweh Ayay ashay ayay Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 9,029	Re: Religion and Neuroscience Quote: Originally posted by SherryA I found this great article I'd like to share on the subject of religion and neuroscience in the UK's The Guardian. It begins: "Religion may be a survival mechanism. So are we born to believe?" I've seen similar writings addressing this view, but none as compelling as this one. http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/featu...423450,00.html Sherry Austin. I've heard of these "god modules" in the brain for quite some time now, I think it is a little spurious to conclude that humans have evolved to be religious. From what I've read elsewhere, humans are highly anthromorphic and readily form associations (even if the associations arent fully comprehendable). Most people had stuffed animal when they were very young, and for a while the stuffed animal seemed fully alive - or sometimes children create anthromorphic explanations for the weather (i.e. it rains when the angels are crying, or a crescent moon looks like a fingernail), etc. Its really nothing special, its only humans going through their anthromorphic stage, and eventually the stage is grown out of. However, with organized religion, some anthromorphic ideas are reinforced over and over, which (for a lack of better words) "imprints" itself in the character of a person. I found the Guardian article to be very interesting, but it seems to me that spirituality isnt something people are born with or anything that has evolved, but probably something that is learned.
Yahweh Ayay ashay ayay Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 9,029

3rd March 2005, 01:00 AM	#9
AWPrime Master Poster Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 2,929	Well there is another threory that suggests that it was a left over, from the time that everyone had to obey the head-ape.
AWPrime Master Poster Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 2,929	__________________ Sir Arthur C. Clarke - "Any sufficiently advanced technology, to the uninformed observer, is indistinguishable from magic." c4ts - "Jesus loves the little children, Nice and fat and honey roasted..." Lancastic = Demonstrative of outstanding personal effort in the exposing of frauds. Rob Lister - "The enemy of my enemy probably tastes yummy. "