Comments on: Where is God in the Brain? http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/where-is-god-in-the-brain/ Sat, 20 Mar 2010 16:44:36 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Kolz Blog » Blog Archive » Friday Focus and Wisdom of the Week http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/where-is-god-in-the-brain/comment-page-1/#comment-21398 Kolz Blog » Blog Archive » Friday Focus and Wisdom of the Week Thu, 01 Nov 2007 19:16:59 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/where-is-god-in-the-brain/#comment-21398 [...] Pick The Brain is a new discovery for me and I immediately put in my subscription. Their post, Where is God in the Brain? is very interested and a tad controversial. Last but not least, LivSimpl has a great series on [...] [...] Pick The Brain is a new discovery for me and I immediately put in my subscription. Their post, Where is God in the Brain? is very interested and a tad controversial. Last but not least, LivSimpl has a great series on [...]

]]> By: John Wesley http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/where-is-god-in-the-brain/comment-page-1/#comment-20256 John Wesley Wed, 10 Oct 2007 20:32:41 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/where-is-god-in-the-brain/#comment-20256 Thanks for the info, Doug. I'll update the post. Thanks for the info, Doug. I’ll update the post.

]]> By: Doug Kyle http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/where-is-god-in-the-brain/comment-page-1/#comment-20255 Doug Kyle Wed, 10 Oct 2007 19:56:45 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/where-is-god-in-the-brain/#comment-20255 Dr. Michael Persinger's research, and others looking into this very topic are covered by the documentary "God on the Brain" and can be found here: http://www.dkyle.com/friends/welcome.html#[[God%20On%20The%20Brain]] The above series is quite interesting and opens with a man who had a severe epileptic episode that left him with a profound religious experience. Both before and after the experience, the man is a staunch atheist. --- Not covered in the article are a number of studies on shamanism and shamanic drumming as well. Science has already shown that the fast mono-rhythmic drumming leads to a decrease in brain-wave frequency that in many people approaches those found in a dreaming person. This essentially results in a lucid dream and is essentially, where the visions of such a practice come from (although why the things that appear are what they are is debated ranging from spiritual reasoning to the psychological). This drop in brain wave patterns is also where Trance music got its name... unfortunately though I don't have any sources to quote on this. --- MIT was also working with buhdists back in 2003. I'm not sure if that's still going on but their findings are probably public if anyone's searching for more information. Dr. Michael Persinger’s research, and others looking into this very topic are covered by the documentary “God on the Brain” and can be found here: http://www.dkyle.com/friends/welcome.html#God%20On%20The%20Brain

The above series is quite interesting and opens with a man who had a severe epileptic episode that left him with a profound religious experience. Both before and after the experience, the man is a staunch atheist.

—

Not covered in the article are a number of studies on shamanism and shamanic drumming as well. Science has already shown that the fast mono-rhythmic drumming leads to a decrease in brain-wave frequency that in many people approaches those found in a dreaming person. This essentially results in a lucid dream and is essentially, where the visions of such a practice come from (although why the things that appear are what they are is debated ranging from spiritual reasoning to the psychological). This drop in brain wave patterns is also where Trance music got its name… unfortunately though I don’t have any sources to quote on this.

—

MIT was also working with buhdists back in 2003. I’m not sure if that’s still going on but their findings are probably public if anyone’s searching for more information.

]]> By: Rick Cockrum http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/where-is-god-in-the-brain/comment-page-1/#comment-20254 Rick Cockrum Wed, 10 Oct 2007 19:39:42 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/where-is-god-in-the-brain/#comment-20254 Nice find, John. The more research of this type, the better. Whatever your beliefs, experience will have a physical correlate. I do get irritated by the people who look at, or even those doing the research, who look at the results and think they know what it means, though. Like Paquette said in the article, it turns the work into a 21st century phrenology. Nice find, John. The more research of this type, the better. Whatever your beliefs, experience will have a physical correlate. I do get irritated by the people who look at, or even those doing the research, who look at the results and think they know what it means, though. Like Paquette said in the article, it turns the work into a 21st century phrenology.

]]> By: John Wesley http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/where-is-god-in-the-brain/comment-page-1/#comment-20246 John Wesley Wed, 10 Oct 2007 17:45:56 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/where-is-god-in-the-brain/#comment-20246 Haha, true. Although, I would guess that many fanatics are created by societal conventions and shared beliefs, rather than religious epiphanies. Definitely something to think about though. Haha, true. Although, I would guess that many fanatics are created by societal conventions and shared beliefs, rather than religious epiphanies. Definitely something to think about though.

]]> By: Gideon http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/where-is-god-in-the-brain/comment-page-1/#comment-20245 Gideon Wed, 10 Oct 2007 17:40:23 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/where-is-god-in-the-brain/#comment-20245 I find this terribly fascinating. We've discussed this issue some in some of my religious studies course and it's certainly one of the more pregnant fields (neurotheology it is sometimes called.) What I found remarkable is that "religious experiences" are in a different part of the brain than say, psychotic hallucinations or other forms of diminished cognitive experience. What does it mean? I have no idea. But it does refute the "they're just crazy" argument (at least, heh, sometimes!) I find this terribly fascinating. We’ve discussed this issue some in some of my religious studies course and it’s certainly one of the more pregnant fields (neurotheology it is sometimes called.)

What I found remarkable is that “religious experiences” are in a different part of the brain than say, psychotic hallucinations or other forms of diminished cognitive experience.

What does it mean? I have no idea. But it does refute the “they’re just crazy” argument (at least, heh, sometimes!)

]]>