topic Re: Neurophysiology: Religious experiences is really just in your head. in Community Spirit

Neurophysiology: Religious experiences is really just in your head.

the_bob_delusion — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 10:44:16 GMT

There is a likely neural basis for religious experiences which accounts for many if not all such experiences.

From studying epileptic patients who suffer seizures of the brain's frontal lobe, scientists found that patients frequently experienced mystical episodes and often become obsessed with religious spirituality.

The feeling of God's presence that she's there with you, that your prayer is being listen to, the comfort of love, seeing the light. This supposed religious experience has been induced by scientists stimulating the frontal lobe in 80% of subjects including atheists.

Interesting Heh.

BTW, alternatively alien abductions sensation and demonic posession can also occur by the stimulation of the frontal lobe.

Re: Neurophysiology: Religious experiences is really just in your head.

poddster — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 10:51:52 GMT

Simple solution Bob, give all religious freaks a lobotomy.

The same could apply as a compulsory measure for polititians 🙂

Re: Neurophysiology: Religious experiences is really just in your head.

the_bob_delusion — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 10:54:25 GMT

Simple solution Bob, give all religious freaks a lobotomy.

The same could apply as a compulsory measure for polititians 🙂

except just about everyone is susceptible to the same experience.

And near death experience, same thing. Certain chemical induction can produce the same experience.

Re: Neurophysiology: Religious experiences is really just in your head.

poddster — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 10:54:25 GMT

In fact lets include all the world's people in that remedial measure (except thee and me) that would achieve peace in our time 🙂

Re: Neurophysiology: Religious experiences is really just in your head.

poddster — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 10:56:26 GMT

you could have the northern hemisphere and i would have the south, or visa versa 🙂

Re: Neurophysiology: Religious experiences is really just in your head.

vintage-star — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 11:22:57 GMT

;\..... Feelin' a little left out here!!

Re: Neurophysiology: Religious experiences is really just in your head.

cherry*135 — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 11:26:08 GMT

Absurd.

Re: Neurophysiology: Religious experiences is really just in your head.

*crikey*mate* — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 17:29:35 GMT

*smirk*

I don't have epilepsy, but I will admit to calling out "Oh my God" on occasion.......

Re: Neurophysiology: Religious experiences is really just in your head.

darksideofthemoon — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 20:21:42 GMT

Soooo in effect we have a two way system so that outside influences can contact us?

Those areas of the brain are there intentionally for just such a purpose?

Good on us... we have discovered we have some parts of our brain that can be stimulated by outside influences.. either by probes of other measures to induce those thoughts... it doesn't mean they don't exist 🙂

If you follow me?

Re: Neurophysiology: Religious experiences is really just in your head.

tasfleur — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 23:07:17 GMT

"I don't have epilepsy, but I will admit to calling out "Oh my God" on occasion"

Re: Neurophysiology: Religious experiences is really just in your head.

lakeland27 — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 23:35:06 GMT

my grown up daughter has epilepsy and tells me she has no spiritual beliefs.

Re: Neurophysiology: Religious experiences is really just in your head.

darksideofthemoon — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 03:30:58 GMT

"I don't have epilepsy, but I will admit to calling out "Oh my God" on occasion"

]:) :^O

Re: Neurophysiology: Religious experiences is really just in your head.

superscanner4 — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 09:20:08 GMT

It's true, and there have been other studies and other evidence that supports these findings. For instance people who have been close to death and brought back have also reported the same experiences, caused by the physiology of the brain beginning to shut down.

Re: Neurophysiology: Religious experiences is really just in your head.

bella_again — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 21:20:19 GMT

I think the bottom line is what Darkie said that just because our brain is stimulated in a certain way to induce spiritual experiences doesn't mean they don't exist or the experience isn't real to the person. I do recall some years back another study supporting this theory but then again if you look hard enough you could find many studies that support whatever theory you like!

The bottom line is that it is recognized among Psychs, social workers and scientists that human beings have a spiritual component to them and this spiritual competent is important to well being. However its also recognised that the expression of spiritually in individuals varies. I don't think its something we should dismiss.

Re: Neurophysiology: Religious experiences is really just in your head.

azureline** — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 21:25:03 GMT

agrees with Bella.