Scientific Study of Religion

I noticed that the word gene is being used by some posters where the word allele should have been used. Genes and alleles are not interchangeable. For example SLC24A5 gene is responsible for color but it is the mutation in its A111T allele which is responsible for appearance of light skin color that all of a sudden started to appear among Indo-Europeans.

This whole thing is a lot more complex than what I can sum up tonight for I am tired and going to bed. I have posted about it in past in detail. I will see if I can find that thread(s).
that's just the point -- it's much, much more complicated than the Asclepias types of the world imagine it is -- for they imagine they know wtf they are talking about. They use science to try and push politics and ideology and religion and other nonsense

:clap2:

I think Asclepias is right in saying that black skin color is the normal function of SLC24A5. The light skin is a result of mutated A111T allele. Anyway, it is time for me to hit the bed again.
Vikrant

if you peruse the last page of posts you will see that Asclepias is a tool who is not saying anything you imagine her to be saying
 
back on topic...
---------------------------

Scientific Study of Religion: "Can the same basic circuitry produce Mother Teresa and the Sept. 11 hijacker Mohamed Atta?" --- "If so, how? To approach even speculative answers to such questions, the researchers have to capture what goes on in the brain of a believer during a religious moment.'

... Who would protest this and why? Would it be only the haters -- the haters who truly believe they are different than their perceived enemies? Will it include others with agendas both hidden and unhidden?

"I think some people worry that we're biologizing the religious response … that that will demystify it or make it somehow less important," said Anderson, who was raised Mormon but left the church a decade ago.

There are plenty who would relish any data that support the idea that God is all in the mind. But Korenberg and Anderson aren't looking for how people come to believe in a supernatural being. They want to know what happens once they do believe.


...

Until now, Korenberg and Anderson have done what medical researchers do — studied abnormalities. She has spent 15 years investigating the neurochemical and genetic roots of Williams syndrome, an obscure brain abnormality somewhat like the inverse of autism; it causes people to become hypersocial but befuddled by simple objects. They have extreme emotional reactions to music, akin to religious ecstasy.
Interesting thread form last year:

pacer said:
The God spots revealed: Scientists find areas of the brain responsible for spirituality

By Daily Mail Reporter
PUBLISHED: 06:15 GMT, 21 April 2012 | UPDATED: 06:57 GMT, 21 April 2012

Scientists have speculated for years that the human brain features a 'God spot,' one distinct area of the brain responsible for spirituality.

Now, University of Missouri researchers have completed research that indicates spirituality is a complex phenomenon and that multiple areas of the brain are responsible for the many aspects of spiritual experiences.

Based on a previously published study that indicated spiritual transcendence is associated with decreased right parietal lobe functioning, Missouri University (MU) researchers replicated their findings. In addition, the researchers determined that other aspects of spiritual functioning are related to increased activity in the frontal lobe.

'We have found a neuropsychological basis for spirituality, but it’s not isolated to one specific area of the brain,' said Brick Johnstone, professor of health psychology in the School of Health Professions.

'Spirituality is a much more dynamic concept that uses many parts of the brain.'

'Certain parts of the brain play more predominant roles, but they all work together to facilitate individuals’ spiritual experiences.'

In the most recent study, Johnstone studied 20 people with traumatic brain injuries affecting the right parietal lobe, the area of the brain situated a few inches above the right ear.

He surveyed participants on characteristics of spirituality, such as how close they felt to a higher power and if they felt their lives were part of a divine plan.

He found that the participants with more significant injury to their right parietal lobe showed an increased feeling of closeness to a higher power.

'Neuropsychology researchers consistently have shown that impairment on the right side of the brain decreases one’s focus on the self,' said Johnstone.

'Since our research shows that people with this impairment are more spiritual, this suggests spiritual experiences are associated with a decreased focus on the self.

'This is is consistent with many religious texts that suggest people should concentrate on the well-being of others rather than on themselves.'

Johnstone says the right side of the brain is associated with self-orientation, whereas the left side is associated with how individuals relate to others.

Although Johnstone studied people with brain injury, previous studies of Buddhist meditators and Franciscan nuns with normal brain function have shown that people can learn to minimize the functioning of the right side of their brains to increase their spiritual connections during meditation and prayer.

In addition, Johnstone measured the frequency of participants’ religious practices, such as how often they attended church or listened to religious programs.

He measured activity in the frontal lobe and found a correlation between increased activity in this part of the brain and increased participation in religious practices.

The research indicated that there are all kinds of spiritual experiences that Christians might call closeness to God and atheists might call an awareness of themselves.

'This finding indicates that spiritual experiences are likely associated with different parts of the brain,” said Johnstone.

Spirituality exists across the whole brain | Mail Online

Scientists find areas of brain responsible for spirituality... US Message Board - Political Discussion Forum

...and more interesting to Dante is 'what a difference a year makes'


Neuroscientist Mario Beauregard of the University of Arizona is writing a book criticizing the scientific belief that there eventually will be a material explanation for everything. His work helped disprove earlier studies that purported to find a "God spot" in the brain.

"There really is no such thing," said Michael Inzlicht, a psychologist at the University of Toronto who also has studied religion's effect on the brain. "Thinking of God could maybe activate certain spots of the brain, but they weren't evolved for that purpose. They have evolved for some other reason and have been co-opted for religious cognition."

Most neuroscientists have long since abandoned any search for a "God spot," and settled on delving deeper into networks involving attention, salience, self-reflection, emotion and other functions.

Scientists seek religious experience ndash in subjects apos brains - LA Times
 
back on topic...
---------------------------

Scientific Study of Religion: "Can the same basic circuitry produce Mother Teresa and the Sept. 11 hijacker Mohamed Atta?" --- "If so, how? To approach even speculative answers to such questions, the researchers have to capture what goes on in the brain of a believer during a religious moment.'

... Who would protest this and why? Would it be only the haters -- the haters who truly believe they are different than their perceived enemies? Will it include others with agendas both hidden and unhidden?

"I think some people worry that we're biologizing the religious response … that that will demystify it or make it somehow less important," said Anderson, who was raised Mormon but left the church a decade ago.

There are plenty who would relish any data that support the idea that God is all in the mind. But Korenberg and Anderson aren't looking for how people come to believe in a supernatural being. They want to know what happens once they do believe.


...

Until now, Korenberg and Anderson have done what medical researchers do — studied abnormalities. She has spent 15 years investigating the neurochemical and genetic roots of Williams syndrome, an obscure brain abnormality somewhat like the inverse of autism; it causes people to become hypersocial but befuddled by simple objects. They have extreme emotional reactions to music, akin to religious ecstasy.
Interesting thread form last year:

pacer said:
The God spots revealed: Scientists find areas of the brain responsible for spirituality

By Daily Mail Reporter
PUBLISHED: 06:15 GMT, 21 April 2012 | UPDATED: 06:57 GMT, 21 April 2012

Scientists have speculated for years that the human brain features a 'God spot,' one distinct area of the brain responsible for spirituality.

Now, University of Missouri researchers have completed research that indicates spirituality is a complex phenomenon and that multiple areas of the brain are responsible for the many aspects of spiritual experiences.

Based on a previously published study that indicated spiritual transcendence is associated with decreased right parietal lobe functioning, Missouri University (MU) researchers replicated their findings. In addition, the researchers determined that other aspects of spiritual functioning are related to increased activity in the frontal lobe.

'We have found a neuropsychological basis for spirituality, but it’s not isolated to one specific area of the brain,' said Brick Johnstone, professor of health psychology in the School of Health Professions.

'Spirituality is a much more dynamic concept that uses many parts of the brain.'

'Certain parts of the brain play more predominant roles, but they all work together to facilitate individuals’ spiritual experiences.'

In the most recent study, Johnstone studied 20 people with traumatic brain injuries affecting the right parietal lobe, the area of the brain situated a few inches above the right ear.

He surveyed participants on characteristics of spirituality, such as how close they felt to a higher power and if they felt their lives were part of a divine plan.

He found that the participants with more significant injury to their right parietal lobe showed an increased feeling of closeness to a higher power.

'Neuropsychology researchers consistently have shown that impairment on the right side of the brain decreases one’s focus on the self,' said Johnstone.

'Since our research shows that people with this impairment are more spiritual, this suggests spiritual experiences are associated with a decreased focus on the self.

'This is is consistent with many religious texts that suggest people should concentrate on the well-being of others rather than on themselves.'

Johnstone says the right side of the brain is associated with self-orientation, whereas the left side is associated with how individuals relate to others.

Although Johnstone studied people with brain injury, previous studies of Buddhist meditators and Franciscan nuns with normal brain function have shown that people can learn to minimize the functioning of the right side of their brains to increase their spiritual connections during meditation and prayer.

In addition, Johnstone measured the frequency of participants’ religious practices, such as how often they attended church or listened to religious programs.

He measured activity in the frontal lobe and found a correlation between increased activity in this part of the brain and increased participation in religious practices.

The research indicated that there are all kinds of spiritual experiences that Christians might call closeness to God and atheists might call an awareness of themselves.

'This finding indicates that spiritual experiences are likely associated with different parts of the brain,” said Johnstone.

Spirituality exists across the whole brain | Mail Online

Scientists find areas of brain responsible for spirituality... US Message Board - Political Discussion Forum

...and more interesting to Dante is 'what a difference a year makes'


Neuroscientist Mario Beauregard of the University of Arizona is writing a book criticizing the scientific belief that there eventually will be a material explanation for everything. His work helped disprove earlier studies that purported to find a "God spot" in the brain.

"There really is no such thing," said Michael Inzlicht, a psychologist at the University of Toronto who also has studied religion's effect on the brain. "Thinking of God could maybe activate certain spots of the brain, but they weren't evolved for that purpose. They have evolved for some other reason and have been co-opted for religious cognition."

Most neuroscientists have long since abandoned any search for a "God spot," and settled on delving deeper into networks involving attention, salience, self-reflection, emotion and other functions.

Scientists seek religious experience ndash in subjects apos brains - LA Times

Wonder what happened to pacer.

Good article thanks for sharing.
 
Scientific Study of Religion: "Can the same basic circuitry produce Mother Teresa and the Sept. 11 hijacker Mohamed Atta?" --- "If so, how? To approach even speculative answers to such questions, the researchers have to capture what goes on in the brain of a believer during a religious moment.'

... Who would protest this and why? Would it be only the haters -- the haters who truly believe they are different than their perceived enemies? Will it include others with agendas both hidden and unhidden?

"I think some people worry that we're biologizing the religious response … that that will demystify it or make it somehow less important," said Anderson, who was raised Mormon but left the church a decade ago.

There are plenty who would relish any data that support the idea that God is all in the mind. But Korenberg and Anderson aren't looking for how people come to believe in a supernatural being. They want to know what happens once they do believe.


...

Until now, Korenberg and Anderson have done what medical researchers do — studied abnormalities. She has spent 15 years investigating the neurochemical and genetic roots of Williams syndrome, an obscure brain abnormality somewhat like the inverse of autism; it causes people to become hypersocial but befuddled by simple objects. They have extreme emotional reactions to music, akin to religious ecstasy.

Think the biggest obstacle to a scientific study of religion is it's nearly impossible to distinguish those who truly believe in their heart of hearts, and those who just say they believe. Identifying as a given faith has become a socially acceptable lie.
 
Religions were efficient tools to control people. That is the main reason behind their popularity.

so they are popular with the people they control because the people they control want to be controlled?

The popularity lies with the elite who sees religion as a tool to control people. It is this class which through means of coercion forces religion on common people. It is basically a top-down model if you are looking for an analogy. Its objective is to serve people on the top. This is why historically organized religions have been far more successful than unorganized religions.
 
Religions were efficient tools to control people. That is the main reason behind their popularity.

so they are popular with the people they control because the people they control want to be controlled?

I think that is the wrong approach. The popularity results from the comforting social and after life part, that triggers the release of dopamines and endorphies. It makes happy to believe if you are afraid to think.
Therer are other aspects playing an important role.
First, our brain is generally structured in a way to see reasons behind events. An important program is the false positive logic. Say, if Lucy in the Savannah heared a noise in the bush, run away though it was only the wind, she lost some time in gathering food at the worst.
Monkeys with the false negative logic did not survive, because they concluded there was nothing but the wind when in fact there was a lion.
So the majority og genetic survivors were false positive and suspect a reason behind everything.
If in doubt, it's god.
Second, we are structured to trust authority. Mainly as a child, It was extremely helpful to survive if you beleived the elders that swimming in this or that lake is not advisable because there are crocodiles, even if you never saw one yourself.
There are more such functional basics of our brain which are open to take over religious beliefs, so I think there is mo such thing as a god spot. It is just the question if your rational capacity can override basic instincts plus the belief systems imprinted on you as a child.
 
Religions were efficient tools to control people. That is the main reason behind their popularity.

so they are popular with the people they control because the people they control want to be controlled?

I think that is the wrong approach. The popularity results from the comforting social and after life part, that triggers the release of dopamines and endorphies. It makes happy to believe if you are afraid to think.
Therer are other aspects playing an important role.
First, our brain is generally structured in a way to see reasons behind events. An important program is the false positive logic. Say, if Lucy in the Savannah heared a noise in the bush, run away though it was only the wind, she lost some time in gathering food at the worst.
Monkeys with the false negative logic did not survive, because they concluded there was nothing but the wind when in fact there was a lion.
So the majority og genetic survivors were false positive and suspect a reason behind everything.
If in doubt, it's god.
Second, we are structured to trust authority. Mainly as a child, It was extremely helpful to survive if you beleived the elders that swimming in this or that lake is not advisable because there are crocodiles, even if you never saw one yourself.
There are more such functional basics of our brain which are open to take over religious beliefs, so I think there is mo such thing as a god spot. It is just the question if your rational capacity can override basic instincts plus the belief systems imprinted on you as a child.

Religious authorities just like any other authoritarian figures use stick and carrot to coerce people. Of course first, they offer carrot in the form all sorts of benefits such as abundance of women and wealth in after life. These benefits can get really lucrative depending on the religion you subscribe to. If somehow that is not enough then they resort to stick in the form of concept of hell. This combination of carrot and stick does it for the most people. As far as the ones who do not fall for either the carrot or the stick, they are declared infidel and eliminated.
 
Neuroscientist, Says Religious Fundamentalism Could Be Treated As A Mental Illness
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I got almost banned from a forum for asking "what would a priest or pastor say standing in an museum of natural science in front of a dinosaur skeleton"? I like the feeling in believing in a higher power but never understood man writing "The Word of God" and then telling me I must follow what that man wrote!! Will we ever know the truth? Who knows.
 

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