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We are wired for God ??? (Read 1137 times)

Sprintcyclist

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We are wired for God ???
Mar 10^th, 2009 at 8:26am

Quote:

THE brain of every human being, from believers to atheists, has been revealed to contain at least three "god spots", all linked to religious beliefs and thoughts.

A team of US researchers has obtained strong evidence that religiosity is managed by the same parts of the brain that are used every day to interpret other people's moods and intentions and to analyse experiences.

Moreover, the spots exist in the brains of ordinary people, not just those whose extraordinary religious experiences have been triggered by brain injury or neurological conditions like epilepsy.

Scientists, philosophers and theologians have long argued about whether religious belief is a biological or a sociological phenomenon. Britain's controversial evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins contends that religion is essentially a cultural virus, spread from brain to brain.

Others argue that it arises from the structure of the brain itself.

The new findings by researchers at the US National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland -- obtained by non-invasive brain scans of 26 Americans -- have gone far to resolving the debate.

Jordan Grafman and his colleagues wrote in the US journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that the evolution of the brain networks that handle religious thoughts "was likely driven by their primary roles in social (thinking), language and logical reasoning".

According to University of NSW evolutionary biologist Rob Brooks, the study shows that religion taps into existing parts of the brain that evolved to handle complex social interactions.

"It exploits existing parts of our brain," Associate Professor Brooks suggested.

He agreed with the US team that, regardless of whether god existed, the work showed that religious beliefs did exist and could be studied rigorously.

Dr Grafman's group broke down religious belief into three "psychological" components: god's perceived emotion, god's involvement with the world and doctrinal, or knowledge, aspects of religion.

They then used functional magnetic resonance imaging to watch what went on in the brains of volunteers as they evaluated statements about religious belief.

The scans revealed that the volunteers' brains evaluated the actions of other people in the same way they contemplated god's mood and involvement with humanity.

The imaging also pinpointed an association between a person's previous religious teachings and a part of the brain involved in memory and speech.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25164615-2703,00.html

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Yadda

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Re: We are wired for God ???
Reply #1 - Mar 10^th, 2009 at 10:31am

sprint,

An interesting article, theory.

+++++

Romans 1:19
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

1 Corinthians 1:19
For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

1 Corinthians 2:6
Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Ezekiel 33:11
Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

'Israel' is a type in the Bible for mankind.

Read the story of ancient Israel in the Bible, God's promise to Abraham, Israel's bondage in Egypt, its deliverance [from bondage] by the mighty hand of God, and the corruption of the Children of Israel, after they grew fat and comfortable in the promised land.

Revealing how in their hearts, the Children of Israel were still in bondage to this world.

There are parallels in all of these stories, to what is happening in our lives, in our world today.

God calls to all of his children.

Isaiah 48:10
Behold, I have refined thee [Israel], but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

Psalms 69:32
The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.
33 For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.
34 Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.
35 For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession.
36 The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein.

"....And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
Luke 16:31

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mozzaok Gold Member Offline OzPolitic Posts: 6741 Melbourne Gender:	Re: We are wired for God ??? Reply #2 - Mar 11^th, 2009 at 7:51am Quote: religious experiences have been triggered by brain injury They said it, not me.
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Sprintcyclist

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Re: We are wired for God ???
Reply #3 - Mar 11^th, 2009 at 8:20am

yadda Quote:

"And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.

1 Chronicles 28:9

Quote:

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5

mozzaok - hahahah, oh, laughter is a great thing .
All the best

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Yadda

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Re: We are wired for God ???
Reply #4 - Mar 11^th, 2009 at 10:25am

mozzaok wrote on Mar 11^th, 2009 at 7:51am:

Quote:

religious experiences have been triggered by brain injury

They said it, not me. Wink

moz,

Yes, yes, ......har, har! Grin

Also, many ppl who have experienced a physical trauma [like a motor accident] have experienced being temporarily thrown out of their physical body.

Many ppl choose to dismiss such experiences as an illusion, caused by their trauma.

The fact that physical trauma can sometimes trigger a 'religious experience', or cause us to even challenge our understanding of this reality, does not mean that such experiences should just be dismissed.

Or does it?

I suppose the answer to that, depends on whether we have an enquiring mind?

But why should we [encourage such enquiry]?

It is so much easier, and 'natural', to just become a 'party to' the consciousness in this world.
....than to truly think for ourselves. Cool

"....And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
Luke 16:31

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tallowood Gold Member Offline Израиль Навсегда Posts: 7946 Gender:	Re: We are wired for God ??? Reply #5 - Mar 11^th, 2009 at 12:00pm Quote: ...Neanderthal may have been as intelligent as we are today, or more so. They may also have had language. But they must have been missing something vital, something without which they were not quite human.... http://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1227008907
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Yadda

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Re: We are wired for God ???
Reply #6 - Mar 11^th, 2009 at 7:42pm

Sprintcyclist wrote on Mar 11^th, 2009 at 8:20am:

yadda Quote:

1 Chronicles 28:9

Quote:

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5

"....And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever."

sprint,

If these quotes reflect the truth of our 'connectedness' to our God [and i believe that they do], they demonstrate absolutely the total ability of our God to judge us, righteously.

That knowledge should fill us with confidence, and 'fear' [respect].

Our God, is closer than our own skin. Wink

Acts 17:27
That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Hebrews 4:13
Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

"....And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
Luke 16:31

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